Charles Leclerc is quietly putting together one of the most consistent seasons of his F1 career — and somehow, no one seems to be talking about it.
After 13 races in the 2025 calendar (not counting the Chinese Grand Prix where he was disqualified), Leclerc sits fifth in the standings with 139 points. He’s collected five podiums so far — in Saudi Arabia, Spain, Austria, Silverstone and most recently Spa — which puts him tied with Max Verstappen and George Russell. Only the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris has been on the podium more often this year.
Charles Leclerc has 4 podiums over the last 6 races, only 1 fewer than both McLaren drivers. No other driver has more than 1.
— Daniel Valente ️ (@F1GuyDan) July 28, 2025
Oscar Piastri: 5
Lando Norris: 5
Charles Leclerc: 4
Max Verstappen: 1
Kimi Antonelli: 1
George Russell: 1
Nico Hulkenberg: 1
Not appreciated enough. pic.twitter.com/9WIN75m2Jo
His latest performance in Belgium said a lot. With heavy rain delaying the start by over an hour and chaos all over the grid, Leclerc kept his cool and finished third. Verstappen pushed him hard late in the race, but the Ferrari driver held him off with clean, mistake-free laps through the most technical parts of Spa. That’s no easy task in those conditions, especially in a Ferrari that hasn’t always been the easiest car to handle.
Ferrari brought a suspension upgrade for Spa that helped stabilize the car through slower corners, and Leclerc made the most of it. He later said that improvement was key to his race pace and allowed him to stay in control despite tricky tire strategy and changing grip levels throughout the Grand Prix.
Inside the team, Leclerc’s dominance over new teammate Lewis Hamilton has been clear. In the 12 races they’ve both finished, Leclerc has come out ahead in 10 of them. In qualifying (excluding sprint sessions), he leads Hamilton 9-3. That kind of in-house control shows just how strong he’s been this season, even if the spotlight hasn’t been on him.
Ferrari has struggled with top-end pace and tire degradation all year. The car still isn’t on the level of McLaren or even Verstappen’s Red Bull on many tracks. But Leclerc keeps maximizing what’s available. He doesn’t make unforced errors, he’s constantly scoring points and he’s quietly helped Ferrari stay in the mix for second in the Constructors’ standings, fighting closely with Mercedes while McLaren pulls ahead.
He hasn’t won a race yet, but those five podiums speak volumes. Leclerc has been in the right place every time the car has given him a shot. There’s a maturity to his driving in 2025 — fewer desperate moves, more trust in his setups and a clear understanding of when to push and when to manage.
It’s easy to get distracted by headlines about Norris’ title push or Piastri’s breakout. But if you’re watching closely, you’ll see that Leclerc is doing exactly what elite drivers do: delivering results, avoiding mistakes and keeping his team in the hunt every single weekend.
Leclerc’s 2025 might not be flashy, but it’s incredibly impressive. In a season full of drama, he’s been a steady force — and he deserves a lot more credit for that.
Charles Leclerc has as many podiums as Max Verstappen so far this year (5) pic.twitter.com/yYgx2g57WD
— Autosport (@autosport) July 27, 2025
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