Masterclass by Charles Leclerc as he claims his first podium of the season with an impeccable drive in Saudi Arabia
The magic of Charles Leclerc goes beyond the limitations of Ferrari and the SF-25. Under the lights of Jeddah, the Monegasque delivered a masterful race from lap one to fifty, clinching a podium that, on the eve of the Grand Prix, seemed like a far-fetched dream given the current pecking order and a car — the red one — that remains increasingly enigmatic. A bit of magic, yet another display from a young man now in his seventh season with Ferrari, with no intention of abandoning ship, despite whispers of a crisis.
While Hamilton struggles to connect with the SF-25, Leclerc is pushing the car beyond its limits. His recent performances in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia come as no surprise. If not for the safety car, it’s likely he would have taken two podiums in a row. But for now, what matters is this result — a morale boost for the team as they look ahead to the rest of the season.
A flawless strategy and equally flawless execution by Charles, particularly in the first stint on medium tires, where he established a blistering rhythm, consistently improving his lap times like a metronome — like one of those Swiss watches that momentarily alter the very perception of time. It was something beyond what race simulations and predictions had envisioned — which too often leave little room for imagination and a driver’s brilliance.
Charles, like Max, is one of the few drivers who can transcend the performance of their car. His overtake on Russell — a rivalry ignited back in Australia — and his defense against the late charge from Lando Norris added to the drama of a gripping Grand Prix. This is how Charles Leclerc and Ferrari crafted a stunning race, delivering him his first podium of the season.
Charles Leclerc’s post-race comments in Saudi Arabia
Leclerc’s post-race satisfaction was quickly tempered by realism and the drive to improve further: “What we’re lacking right now is qualifying performance. That mostly comes from the lack of aerodynamic downforce compared to McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes. Our strength, though, is tire degradation — we saw in the race it was very good, but in qualifying, we just can’t compete, and that’s where we lose ground every weekend.
That said, there are many things I’m happy about. For several weekends now I’ve understood something that unlocked performance — and will unlock even more in the future. It’s been a long time since I felt this comfortable in the car, but we still need to find more performance overall.”
A key test will be making it through to the Barcelona round, when the rules on flexible wings change. Here’s what Charles had to say: “Winning is the only thing that interests me. I think we can catch McLaren with the updates we have coming. There’s also an important milestone in Spain when the front wing regulations will change. We’ll have to see how that reshuffles the order. Until then, it’ll be tough to close the gap to McLaren.”
The reality is still that of a Ferrari struggling with consistency and clarity. But with a Leclerc who gives his all and defies the limits of the car, nothing is off the table — as long as the Scuderia finds another gear.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari Gallery
