The 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be an electrifying clash, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc declaring his determination to take on reigning champion Max Verstappen while preparing for an intense internal rivalry with new teammate and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
After finishing third in the 2024 championship, Leclerc believes Ferrari is close to delivering the car needed to challenge Red Bull's dominance. Speaking to Racing365the 27-year-old Monegasque has not hidden his ambitions:
“I'm ready to be Formula 1 world champion. We just need a car that, over the course of the season, is capable of doing that. I am confident that we are the next team that can do it and beat Red Bull for the championship.”
A battle within the prancing horse
Leclerc's confidence is matched by the challenge he faces within his own team. Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari signals the Briton's burning desire to claim an unprecedented eighth world title. However, the 40-year-old is coming off a disappointing final season with Mercedes, where he fell to the worst position of his career, P7 in the standings.
Leclerc, on the other hand, finished the 2024 campaign as the best non-Red Bull driver, finishing behind Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris. For the Monegasque, the first step towards championship glory is proving he can surpass Hamilton—a feat he already achieved against Sebastian Vettel in his debut season with Ferrari.
A more mature Leclerc
Leclerc attributes his growth as a driver to hard-earned lessons from past seasons. Reflecting on his evolution, he revealed a shift in mindset that helped him manage setbacks and maximize results:
“In the past, when the car wasn't the way I wanted it, I would try to find something in the car that wasn't there, and that would cause me to make mistakes. It also sometimes made days where I did something almost impossible, but felt like it was more of a burden than a reward.”
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He added:
“I have progressed a lot. It’s always about trying to get as close to the limit as possible without ever going over it, but I feel like I’ve taken a step forward in that area.”
The resurgence of Ferrari
Ferrari approaches 2025 with renewed optimism, having come close to second place in the Constructors' Championship last season, finishing just 14 points behind McLaren. The team hasn't won a title since 2008, and pressure is mounting to deliver a car capable of matching Red Bull's dominance.
With Verstappen seeking his sixth consecutive title and McLaren on the rise as a contender, Ferrari's quest for glory will depend on extracting every ounce of potential from their star-studded driver line-up.
The season to follow
Leclerc vs. Hamilton is shaping up to be one of the most gripping storylines of the season. The clash between Leclerc's youthful thirst and Hamilton's legendary experience promises sparks on and off the track. Meanwhile, their shared goal of ending Ferrari's championship drought adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already dramatic narrative.
As the 2025 season gets underway, Ferrari's internal battle could be just as intense as their fight against Verstappen, McLaren and the rest of the field, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling F1 seasons in recent memory.
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