Leclerc concerned about Ferrari's progress

Charles Leclerc, after securing a podium finish at the Singapore Grand Prix, has raised concerns about Ferrari's ability to keep up with its main rivals in the development race. He noted that while the team has made some improvements, it is not enough to prove a return to the top of the competition.

Ferrari's progress seen as incremental

Leclerc pointed out that Ferrari has made some progress through minor modifications to his car, but he does not see this as evidence of a real return to the forefront of the championship. He highlighted a trend showing a relative decline in Ferrari's performance compared to teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, and even McLaren in recent races.

Red Bull's advantage under new rules

Leclerc acknowledged that McLaren might have faced more challenges recently, but he stressed the need for Ferrari to speed up the development of its SF-26 car. He noted that the new technical regulations introduced in 2026 offer significant performance gains, as shown by Red Bull's progress with the RB22. Ferrari did not introduce major updates in Singapore, which adds to Leclerc's concerns.

Development race will shape standings

Leclerc believes the development race could determine the outcome of the remaining races in the season. While Kimi Antonelli leads the championship comfortably, the battle for second place is still open, with only 37 points separating George Russell from Lando Norris. Leclerc is currently fifth, behind Max Verstappen, who has a six-point lead over him.

Leclerc urges faster progress for Ferrari

He emphasized that every technical improvement could change the championship standings and urged Ferrari to develop its car faster than its rivals to remain competitive. Leclerc's comments reflect the pressure on the team to close the gap and regain its position at the top of the Formula 1 hierarchy.