Ferrari's 'clever' move paves the way for Charles Leclerc to end Max Verstappen's F1 title streak

01/04/2025 06:40 PM

Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is poised to make significant strides in the 2025 Formula 1 campaign as he aims to challenge Max Verstappen for the F1 title.

The Monegasque driver claimed three victories and 12 podium finishes in 2024, securing third place in the championship behind Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Charles Leclerc’s 2024 F1 championship was a mix of highs and lows, as he achieved a memorable win at Monaco, his home race, along with dominant performances at Monza and Austin. However, he was unable to clinch the Constructors’ Championship, with Ferrari narrowly losing to McLaren by just 14 points.

While Ferrari made notable progress after Red Bull’s RB20 development faltered, the team faced setbacks, particularly with a disastrous upgrade introduced in Barcelona. Charles Leclerc, in particular, struggled with the consequences of this upgrade, failing to score points at both Spielberg and Silverstone.

Despite some dazzling performances, the 27-year-old’s season was marred by mistakes, particularly involving track limits—errors that would be hard to imagine from a title contender like the Dutchman. Former F1 strategist Peter Windsor believes that Charles Leclerc must eliminate these mistakes in 2025 if he is to compete at the highest level.

However, there is optimism within Ferrari heading into 2025, especially after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With the team’s performance showing promising signs, many experts believe Ferrari will have the upper hand over Red Bull as they seek to compete with McLaren at the front of the grid.

The Monegasque driver’s ‘epic’ first lap in Abu Dhabi, which saw him rise from 19th to 8th after a grid penalty for a battery change, was a highlight. He eventually finished an impressive third, just behind teammate Carlos Sainz, while Lando Norris secured McLaren's Constructors’ Championship victory.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Italian side is determined to maintain their momentum and strengthen their competitive edge over Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Michael Bleekemolen, speaking on RacingNews365's YouTube channel, expressed confidence in Ferrari’s strategy, describing their operations as “so clever” and predicting that it will be Charles Leclerc who will ultimately end Verstappen’s reign.

"I think a little bit about Ferrari and Leclerc. I still think that Ferrari are going to put extra effort into the engines and still get the last bit out of it. It is strange that they were not completely there for a while and those people have everything in-house. They make everything themselves down to the last casting. Everything is produced there so I think it's so clever and that's why you sometimes think, now will they find the connection again and I think that will happen.” – pointed out the Dutch racing driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.

Charles Leclerc will face a new and intense challenge in 2025, as he is set to be partnered with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.

The British driver will join Ferrari after a somewhat underwhelming conclusion to his storied Mercedes career. Lewis Hamilton experienced his worst finish in the championship in 2024, coming in seventh, and now he will be eager to restore his competitive edge at Ferrari, hoping to recapture the form that once made him a dominant force in Formula 1.

Charles Leclerc will certainly not have an easy ride with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion as a Maranello teammate in the following years. The 39-year-old Brit remains one of the most formidable drivers on the grid, particularly over a single lap. Although his recent seasons have seen some struggles, the British driver demonstrated his enduring talent with a remarkable performance in Abu Dhabi, where he fought his way from 16th on the grid to finish an impressive fourth.

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, has suggested that both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be given equal opportunities to race in 2025, with no preference for either driver in terms of team strategy. This indicates a potentially fierce rivalry within the Maranello garage, as both drivers aim to outperform one another.

However, it's possible that Ferrari's ability to intervene in the rivalry may be limited, as Lewis Hamilton could have negotiated his contract in such a way that prevents team orders, allowing him the freedom to challenge the Monegasque without restrictions. This could create an exciting and intense dynamic between the two drivers, with both fiercely vying for supremacy at the Scuderia.

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