Charles Leclerc Prepares for the 82nd Monaco Grand Prix
The Scuderia Ferrari driver reflects on past glories and current challenges ahead of his home race.
In a longstanding tradition, Charles Leclerc addressed local media representatives ahead of the 82nd Monaco Grand Prix, marking a return to an in-person format following previous virtual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s event took place on a terrace overlooking the paddock at Quai Antoine-Ier.
Leclerc, who secured his maiden victory at this prestigious race last year, engaged in a 30-minute conversation about his past triumphs and the challenges faced at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season with Scuderia Ferrari.
Entering the Monaco Grand Prix as the reigning champion, he expressed that his perspective has not significantly changed.
While media sessions typically focus on past performances, Leclerc anticipates a more positive discourse this year compared to previous editions.
Reflecting on his victory on May 26, 2024, he recalled the highlight of the celebration—an intended dive into the port with team principal Frédéric Vasseur, which ultimately had to wait due to a retired race.
Following the first seven races of the season, Leclerc currently holds fifth place in the drivers’ championship with 61 points and just one podium finish, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by a substantial margin of 85 points.
Acknowledging the team's underwhelming start, he stated, "The assessment so far is clearly poor," and emphasized that both he and the Ferrari team are aware of the necessary improvements to regain competitive performance against rivals such as McLaren and Red Bull.
Leclerc noted particular frustrations with qualifying performance, referencing recent challenges, including a double exit in Q2 at Imola.
He described the current situation as complicated, emphasizing the disappointment of achieving solid performances in qualifying, only to see the results not reflect the hard work put in by the team.
He recognized that such fluctuations are part of the sport, with some seasons providing smoother starts than others.
As for the upcoming weekend in Monaco, Leclerc remains optimistic yet realistic about their competitiveness, stating he only hopes for victory and not merely a podium finish.
He acknowledged the difficulties posed by the circuit's slow corners, which do not suit the car's current performance and indicated potential for surprises that could arise during the race.
On working alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc highlighted Hamilton's strong work ethic and valuable insights during problem-solving discussions with engineers, noting the differences in their approaches while identifying similarities in their driving styles.
He remarked on the benefits of sharing a clear developmental vision with Hamilton for the car.
In light of the challenges faced this spring, Leclerc expressed that he has yet to revise his ambitions, with a successful season meaning more than just finishing third or fourth and reiterating his belief in future performance improvements as new regulations are introduced.
Commenting on the impressive rise of Oscar Piastri at McLaren, Leclerc noted he was not surprised by Piastri's success after a solid rookie campaign.
He recognizes that Piastri has made significant strides in tire management and has earned his place at the forefront, although he pointed out that Lando Norris remains a highly skilled driver, keeping the competition close.
In a light-hearted quiz moment, when asked about the only driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix consecutively in a Ferrari, Leclerc hesitated before humorously arriving at the answer, reflecting on Ferrari's storied history.
This year’s event took place on a terrace overlooking the paddock at Quai Antoine-Ier.
Leclerc, who secured his maiden victory at this prestigious race last year, engaged in a 30-minute conversation about his past triumphs and the challenges faced at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season with Scuderia Ferrari.
Entering the Monaco Grand Prix as the reigning champion, he expressed that his perspective has not significantly changed.
While media sessions typically focus on past performances, Leclerc anticipates a more positive discourse this year compared to previous editions.
Reflecting on his victory on May 26, 2024, he recalled the highlight of the celebration—an intended dive into the port with team principal Frédéric Vasseur, which ultimately had to wait due to a retired race.
Following the first seven races of the season, Leclerc currently holds fifth place in the drivers’ championship with 61 points and just one podium finish, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by a substantial margin of 85 points.
Acknowledging the team's underwhelming start, he stated, "The assessment so far is clearly poor," and emphasized that both he and the Ferrari team are aware of the necessary improvements to regain competitive performance against rivals such as McLaren and Red Bull.
Leclerc noted particular frustrations with qualifying performance, referencing recent challenges, including a double exit in Q2 at Imola.
He described the current situation as complicated, emphasizing the disappointment of achieving solid performances in qualifying, only to see the results not reflect the hard work put in by the team.
He recognized that such fluctuations are part of the sport, with some seasons providing smoother starts than others.
As for the upcoming weekend in Monaco, Leclerc remains optimistic yet realistic about their competitiveness, stating he only hopes for victory and not merely a podium finish.
He acknowledged the difficulties posed by the circuit's slow corners, which do not suit the car's current performance and indicated potential for surprises that could arise during the race.
On working alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc highlighted Hamilton's strong work ethic and valuable insights during problem-solving discussions with engineers, noting the differences in their approaches while identifying similarities in their driving styles.
He remarked on the benefits of sharing a clear developmental vision with Hamilton for the car.
In light of the challenges faced this spring, Leclerc expressed that he has yet to revise his ambitions, with a successful season meaning more than just finishing third or fourth and reiterating his belief in future performance improvements as new regulations are introduced.
Commenting on the impressive rise of Oscar Piastri at McLaren, Leclerc noted he was not surprised by Piastri's success after a solid rookie campaign.
He recognizes that Piastri has made significant strides in tire management and has earned his place at the forefront, although he pointed out that Lando Norris remains a highly skilled driver, keeping the competition close.
In a light-hearted quiz moment, when asked about the only driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix consecutively in a Ferrari, Leclerc hesitated before humorously arriving at the answer, reflecting on Ferrari's storied history.