Is Charles Leclerc Ruining His Career At Ferrari?

Leclerc got his first taste of F1 as a development driver in 2016 for Ferrari. He continued as a test driver the next year and, after spending a season with Alfa Romeo Sauber, went over to Ferrari in 2019. His first season started strong, ending in a fourth-place finish. While he hasn’t won a championship, he seems to have grown as a driver and become the face of Ferrari’s development. While his loyalty to the team appears strong, there seems to be growing discontent.

It’s All Going Wrong

Leclerc has had several successful seasons with Ferrari, but each success seems to be followed by failure. When he makes a podium one year, it appears that the manufacturing of the car goes in the wrong direction, sending him even farther from a championship. His first year, he came in fourth, followed by two seasons where he finished eighth and seventh. It happened again when he ended up on the podium in both 2022 and 2024, but the following season, Ferrari’s car just wasn’t built well enough. The success-to-failure pipeline was especially frustrating after the 2022 season, when Ferrari was considered one of the top contenders for the Constructors’ Championship.

This season is more of the same. The team has been hit with several manufacturing issues, forcing them to retire early or crash out of the race altogether. Leclerc now drives with the winningest Formula 1 driver in history, Lewis Hamilton. Even the five-time champion hasn’t been able to successfully drive Ferrari, resulting in the team achieving a handful of podiums but no wins. It seems like the cars aren’t getting better; instead, they’re causing more problems on the track.

All of Ferrari’s potential is flying out the window when the manufacturer can’t keep a reliable car throughout different seasons. That lack of reliability, along with falling team morale, is leaving the entire team frustrated and looking for their next out.

What Happens If Leclerc Moves?

Leclerc has shown loyalty to his team by staying with Ferrari through the manufacturer’s ups and downs. While this is noble, it’s also putting a dent in his career. Leclerc has proved that he’s able to succeed ahead of more experienced teammates, including Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. The car he’s getting to race this season isn’t allowing him to stay competitive. He holds the most pole positions of any driver without a World Championship, and that number will continue to grow unless he gets a better car. He’s slowly becoming the driver who can’t win it all, rather than someone known for his successful driving.

End Of My Charles Leclerc And Ferrari Rant

Ferrari would, without a doubt, lose part of their brand if it allowed Leclerc to walk. While Leclerc has shown his loyalty by staying with the team this long, Ferrari isn’t reciprocating by consistently providing him with winning cars. He’s slowly being known for Ferrari’s mistakes, and it could hurt his career in the long run. He’s a fantastic driver who should look elsewhere for his championship.