Leclerc has high hopes for 2025: 'I'm sure we can start well'
F1 News
- Jeroen Immink
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is determined to pose a much tougher challenge to world champion Max Verstappen in 2025 than he did this year. The Monegasque, who finished third in the F1 standings, aims to carry the strong momentum from the end of the 2024 season into the start of the upcoming Formula 1 campaign.
Leclerc: 'We can start 2025 strong'
At the start of 2024, Verstappen and Red Bull Racing appeared unbeatable. However, after McLaren emerged as the fastest team following the Miami Grand Prix, Ferrari also seized the opportunity to challenge. Charles Leclerc claimed victories in Monaco, Italy, and the United States Grand Prix in Texas. While Ferrari narrowly missed out on the constructors' title to McLaren, both Leclerc and the outgoing Carlos Sainz ended the season with optimism in blisteringly fast Ferrari.
Leclerc aims to build on this momentum in 2025 and put an end to Verstappen’s dominance. "Yes, I really hope so," Leclerc said. "If we look at our first part of the year, we were nowhere near being in the fight for the Constructors’. Then, the second part of the season was really good, and the team did an incredible job. I think Carlos and I have done a really good job as well together. So, yeah, we ended strong, and I'm sure that next year, we’ll hopefully start as strong as what we have ended this year." The Monegasque added.
Charles Leclerc previously battled Max Verstappen for the title in 2022, but the Dutchman came out on top. In 2025, Leclerc will face another formidable challenge as he teams up with a seven-time world champion. Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari, adding even more star power to the iconic Italian team.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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