Charles Leclerc delivered a strong performance at the Monaco Grand Prix, finishing second, a result that exceeded expectations given the difficulties Ferrari has faced with their SF-25 this season. Despite this positive outcome on home ground, Leclerc has advised Ferrari supporters to adjust their hopes as the team prepares for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix. He highlighted that conditions and challenges at Monaco were unique and cautioned against expecting a similar outcome in Spain.

The 2025 Formula 1 season has presented considerable setbacks for Leclerc and Ferrari. The team’s SF-25 car has struggled with rear-end stability, causing both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to experience control issues during cornering. This instability has limited the car’s overall performance throughout several race weekends.

Monaco marked a noteworthy turnaround, as Leclerc nearly secured pole position and maintained his second place to the finish line, giving Ferrari a much-needed confidence boost. Hamilton also benefited, finishing fifth in the race. Despite this, Leclerc emphasized that the progress seen in Monaco is unlikely to directly translate to expectations for Spain.

Setting Realistic Goals for the Spanish Grand Prix

Ahead of media day for the Spanish Grand Prix, Leclerc voiced a tempered outlook, stating,

“We’ve got to reset a bit our expectations going into this weekend compared to a weekend like Monaco where it was a bit more positive,”

reflecting the team‘s cautious stance. He further explained that while the approach to car setup remains aggressive and consistent with the season’s strategy, the underlying challenges persist.

Leclerc addressed his surprising pace in Monaco by acknowledging,

“The previous years we always kind of expected to be strong in Monaco,”

but added,

“This year I genuinely thought that we would be poor. I think that gave us more understanding of our car and maybe the strength of this car that played a bigger part than what we thought in Monaco.”

He also underscored the likelihood of facing a more typical, difficult weekend in Spain, reinforcing that the team’s seasonal struggles—especially in qualifying—will probably resurface, even if the race pace might improve slightly.

Considering the expected warm weather conditions in Spain, Leclerc noted,

“We also expect a very warm weather. We’ve seen that with warm temperatures, McLaren tends to be very, very, very fast. So everything points towards a more normal weekend for us,”

which may present additional challenges for Ferrari given McLaren’s strong early-season form.

Addressing Championship Prospects and Future Improvements

When asked about his chances for the drivers’ championship amid Ferrari’s ongoing pace issues, Leclerc admitted,

“I don’t want to be thinking so much long term just because I have no visibility.”

He highlighted the difficulty of predicting the season’s developments without knowing the upgrades other teams will bring, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the competitive landscape.

Leclerc recognizes McLaren’s dominance this year and expects a tough battle to keep pace, but he remains committed:

“It’s going to be very tough, but I’ll give everything until the end. I hope this weekend helps us to do a step in the right direction and then hopefully with new parts as soon as possible, we can then take the lead in terms of performance on track at least and then that will help us to hope for better.”

He stressed the importance of maintaining consistency, stating,

“But we cannot afford to lose too many races, and starting from this weekend, I hope that we’ll be closer to the guys in front.”

Technical Upgrades and Regulatory Changes on the Horizon

Looking ahead, Ferrari plans to introduce upgrades designed to address the SF-25’s problematic rear-end behavior. Additionally, a new FIA technical directive aiming to limit flexi-wing designs could impact car performance across the grid. However, Leclerc is cautious about their immediate impact, indicating that substantial changes are unlikely to alter Ferrari’s standing in the upcoming Spanish race.

With a challenging season underway, Leclerc’s call to reset expectations is a pragmatic response to Ferrari’s ongoing development struggles. The Spanish Grand Prix offers an opportunity to assess progress, but the team faces significant hurdles in matching the pace of frontrunners like McLaren. While upgrades and regulatory shifts could influence performance later in the year, Ferrari’s path back to consistent competitiveness remains uncertain as the championship progresses.