Charles Leclerc is still waiting for his first serious title fight. Although the Monegasque briefly led the drivers’ championship in early 2022, his title fight with Max Verstappen was over after the Spanish Grand Prix that year. Ferrari has long hoped that Leclerc, who even earned the nickname ‘Il Predestinato’, will bring the team back to the top, but he now has to watch as younger drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri become serious title contenders before him.
Charles Leclerc made his Formula 1 debut in 2018. After a year of maturing at Sauber, the Monegasque was allowed to step into the Ferrari the following season. That same year, Lando Norris also made his Formula 1 debut. Now that the Brit, or the even younger Oscar Piastri, may be on the verge of winning his first world title, Leclerc, who previously earned the nickname ‘Il Predestinato’ at Ferrari, seems to be lagging behind.
Does Leclerc mind that Norris or Piastri seems to be becoming world champion before the Monegasque himself? “But I drive for Ferrari,” the Monegasque remains loyal to his team, speaking to Sky Sport Italia. “My goal is still to win with this team.”
Battle with Hamilton
One driver who does beat Leclerc is his own teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Brit started his first year with the Scuderia in early 2025, but apart from success in the sprint races, his time at Ferrari is still disappointing. For Leclerc, however, the battle with his teammate doesn’t matter. “It’s still very early for him, and we’re not fighting for victories and pole positions,” the Monegasque tells the press conference. “My only focus now is to bring Ferrari back to the top. It’s just too early to judge at this point, as it’s still a new team for Lewis.”
