Ferrari’s Leclerc: It will be difficult to catch Red Bull before 2026

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has admitted that it will be quite tough to catch up with Red Bull anytime before the end of the 2025 season. The 2026 season is expected to introduce some new changes with the regulation, including improved engines and aerodynamics, and this is, for Leclerc, the only opportunity teams would ever get to pose any real threat to Red Bull. 

In Leclerc’s words: “They have a really big margin, and it’s going to be very, very difficult to catch them before the change in regulations.”

At the start of last season, Ferrari seemed quite ready, and for a brief moment, it seemed like we were going to have an intense Ferrari vs. Red Bull battle all year. But that was very short-lived as Ferrari’s momentum quickly fizzled out, and Red Bull went on to dominate the rest of the season. 

This year, however, no team has challenged Red Bull at all, and they have won all 12 races so far and show no sign of stopping. Little wonder seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton sided with Leclerc’s statement.

Red Bull sits at the top of the team leaderboard with 503 points, that’s double more than Mercedes (247) in second place. Max Verstappen, who has won eight consecutive races and a total of ten this season, occupies the top of the drivers standing with 314 points. Sergio Perez, the only other driver to have won a race this season, stays at number two with 189 points. 

By every indication, Red Bull has taken this season, and we have just a few races left before Verstappen is crowned the champion this season, the third year in a row. While it may be easy to view Leclerc’s statement as defeatist, it is quite clear that it will be hard for any team to make Red Bull worry this season. 

Formula 1 will resume this weekend after being on break for a few weeks. It will be interesting to see what changes teams have made to their strategy and how it will prove effective for the remaining 10 races of the season.

Leon Osamor