Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has revealed how he handled the wave of negativity surrounding his staff, and why he determined to utterly steer clear of social media throughout essentially the most troublesome phases of the continued 2026 System 1 season.
Ferrari has at all times been accustomed to intense media consideration, which normally places extra strain on the staff and its drivers, particularly when outcomes don’t match expectations.
Ferrari acquired an enormous wave of criticism final 12 months, coinciding with the arrival of celebrity Lewis Hamilton, earlier than efficiency improved considerably from the beginning of the 2026 season.
However team-mate Leclerc has endured a much less constructive run, particularly because the season progressed, as he arrived at his residence race in Monaco with excessive hopes of delivering a great outcome on a circuit that theoretically appeared well-suited to the pink automobile. These hopes had been shattered by a late-race accident.
The Monegasque’s issues didn’t cease there, as he endured a disastrous spherical in Barcelona, the place team-mate Hamilton claimed his first victory with Ferrari. Leclerc pointed to hydraulic issues, gearbox points and brake issues, earlier than additionally admitting that his poor qualifying outcome didn’t assist.
Showing on the Past The Grid podcast, Leclerc candidly admitted that unfavorable noise hinders the flexibility to ship the required efficiency. He pointed to the unfavorable impression of social media, having determined to keep away from it and delete all of the functions from his cellphone in order that he might focus completely on pure efficiency, away from any distractions.
“It was an important one as a result of it got here right into a second of the season the place there have been numerous negativity round,” Leclerc mentioned. “And when it is like this, it is at all times harder to carry out. I feel many drivers are attempting to cover or deny the actual fact that you’re not affected or that you’re utterly remoted from the noise round.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari with Roberto Chinchero, Motorsport.com journalist
Picture by: Alessio Morgese
“However you can’t be. In these very troublesome moments, I had no social media on my cellphone. I did not wish to hear about something. The one factor I needed to care about was the efficiency within the automobile, my feeling within the automobile, attempting to enhance that. We have had some points on the automobile, which we had been attempting to resolve, which we did then.
“However in that troublesome second, there’s lots of doubts. There are many questions raised and you can not keep utterly remoted from it – for the great purpose that while you go on Thursday and also you do media day, the questions are usually not at all times the constructive and good ones that you simply wish to hear. There’s, in fact, negativity and it is proper that it is that manner. Individuals query and wish to perceive why there are struggles. However as a driver, that is the very last thing you wish to communicate of.
“It was difficult to be working in that atmosphere, however I feel we did an unimaginable job as a result of it began in Canada, the place it is a observe the place I at all times wrestle. I have been struggling for the weekend and you then get to Monaco, however I had the hope that Monaco has at all times been a particular observe for me. In fact, I am from there, nevertheless it’s at all times been a observe the place I have been very aggressive. And there, the sensation was not good in any respect from FP1 till the race. Then now we have this subject within the race, which prices us a DNF.”
A second consecutive non-score adopted at Barcelona, the place he crashed in qualifying and had a terminal subject within the race. “So this was like three very, very troublesome weekends,” Leclerc mentioned.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“And I really feel that once I’ve had good moments in my profession, issues are escalating in a short time in direction of successful the title. And all the pieces is exponentially constructive and too constructive. However when issues go fallacious, it goes the identical the opposite manner. And so all the pieces was unfavorable round me, across the staff. And once more, to be working on this atmosphere is troublesome.”
However Leclerc’s fortunes modified at Silverstone, a circuit he loves, however one the place he was not sure what to anticipate earlier than placing Ferrari on the highest step of the rostrum.
“On paper, truly, there was lots of negativities as a result of Silverstone and Spa had been going to be the 2 most troublesome race weekends of the primary a part of the season,” he continued. “So I used to be like, ‘OK, my God, this isn’t an excellent timing for me’. After which we go in FP1 and the sensation is pretty much as good because it was in Barcelona in free observe. After which issues simply unfolded fairly naturally.
“After which we received the race.”
Leclerc confirmed that the victory boosted his morale and confidence behind the wheel, in addition to his perception within the staff’s capabilities, after many disappointments.
He continued: “It was stunning for the negativity round me, but in addition for the negativity across the staff for that individual observe structure. And I’d say it could not come at a greater time. It felt extraordinarily good as a result of while you’ve been working for therefore lengthy to try to flip a scenario round, I imply, we’re talking about three races, however between races there are gaps and on the finish it is a month.
“And a month of struggling is one thing that’s not a great feeling!”
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