Charles Leclerc remains hopeful, albeit realistic, about his slim chances of winning the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship this season. After a commanding Ferrari one-two finish at the United States Grand Prix, Leclerc closed the gap to Max Verstappen to 79 points with 146 still on offer. While the Monegasque driver knows the odds are stacked against him, he’s refusing to give up entirely, though his focus has shifted to a more achievable target: securing the Constructors’ Championship for Ferrari.
“Never say never,” Leclerc remarked when asked about his championship hopes. However, he acknowledged that while a perfect finish to the season could keep his dream alive, he’ll need more than just flawless driving to overhaul Verstappen. “Even if we do everything perfect, I feel like it will require a little bit of luck… we cannot really rely on luck,” Leclerc admitted, emphasizing that his title chances are far from likely.
Ferrari’s real target, though, is within reach. The Italian team is just 48 points behind McLaren and eight behind Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, setting up a fierce battle for second place. With only five races remaining, Leclerc is directing his focus toward delivering consistent results to help Ferrari finish the season strong.
“We’ve got to target winning the Constructors’ title,” Leclerc said, clearly determined. “It’s an optimistic goal, but that’s what we are here for. We’ll do the math at the end of the season.”
Ferrari has been on a roll with four strong performances across different tracks, demonstrating their potential to challenge their rivals in the final stages of the season. Leclerc’s belief in Ferrari’s ability to continue this momentum shows the team is not just aiming to finish strong—they’re chasing glory.
With Leclerc leading the charge, Ferrari’s eyes are firmly set on the Constructors’ Championship, but until the final checkered flag waves, he’ll keep his faint Drivers’ title hopes alive. After all, as he said, “Never say never.”
