Leclerc Backs Ferrari to Fight for 2026 F1 Title After Early-Season Gains

His confidence reflects a quicker SF-26 with cleaner team execution.

Overview

Charles Leclerc told the BMST podcast that Ferrari has made strong progress and has the tools to fight for the championship.
He sits third in the drivers’ standings with 49 points, with Ferrari up to second in the constructors after three rounds.
Leclerc said the SF-26 lets him show his speed and that a title push hinges on consistency and cutting out mistakes.
He praised Ferrari’s engineers and his race engineer for nailing updates and improving communication in the car and on the pit wall.
Reports describe Mercedes as the current benchmark with McLaren in the mix, and suggest upcoming Ferrari updates could narrow the gap.