Charles Leclerc says Ferrari’s priority is more wins, not defending second in the 2026 Constructors’ standings

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Charles Leclerc has set a clear end-of-2026 target for Ferrari, saying the team should focus less on maintaining second place in the Constructors’ Championship and more on returning to race-winning performances. In comments made ahead of the United States Grand Prix, the Monegasque driver said he “doesn’t really care” about holding onto P2, even though second is “obviously better than third.”

Ferrari currently hold a 105-point advantage over McLaren for second in the Teams’ Championship. However, Leclerc said the standings cannot be approached as a static outcome because Red Bull have “rapidly closed in on the top three,” creating enough remaining season to keep the battle for positions alive until the end.

Leclerc framed Ferrari’s remaining objective as a process of race-by-race execution aimed at maximizing wins rather than protecting a point buffer. He said Ferrari’s most important task is to “focus race by race and try to get as many wins as possible from now until the end of the season,” adding that the result—second place in the Constructors’ Championship—would “eventually” follow if the team keeps delivering victories.

For Leclerc, the emotional value of the season’s finish is tied to on-track results, not the final table. He said a “much bigger satisfaction would be for us to be able to fight for wins and actually win races before the end of the year,” describing it as “a good sign to start next year on a high.”

Ferrari’s recent momentum has been mixed, with the team placing emphasis on their performance in Singapore. According to Leclerc’s comments, Ferrari secured a “double podium” in the Singapore Sprint, though his race challenge of Max Verstappen during the Grand Prix later “faded.” Leclerc also indicated that Ferrari was encouraged by its speed in that weekend while still believing there are “some steps to take.”

Leclerc responded directly to statements that Ferrari were the outright fastest team at Marina Bay. The source notes that Isack Hadjar called Ferrari “the fastest team” at Singapore; Leclerc said he did not agree, explaining: “I don’t agree, but to each their own opinion,” and adding that, since the full picture cannot be known from a single perspective, he viewed it as “a bit of a pointless discussion.”

Beyond Singapore, Leclerc pointed to a changing performance landscape as the season progresses. He said Red Bull have “taken a step up over the last few races” and are carrying strong momentum, while Ferrari must “reverse that trend and get back in front.” He also suggested that other rivals are likely to respond, adding that Mercedes should eventually integrate its “new upgrades” and that McLaren is bringing “a significant package.”

Leclerc concluded by emphasizing how closely matched the field appears to be and what that means for Ferrari’s next steps. He said it is “exciting” because “we’re all relatively close,” and insisted that success will come down to “small details,” with Ferrari needing to become “the team that comes out on top.”