Charles Leclerc has identified Ferrari’s power unit as the primary area where the Scuderia falls short compared to Formula 1’s current pace-setters Mercedes, though the Monegasque driver remains optimistic about closing the gap. Speaking to media including RacingNews365, Leclerc acknowledged that while Ferrari’s chassis represents a significant strength, their engine package lacks both optimization and raw power compared to the Silver Arrows’ dominant unit.
Through the opening three races of the season, Ferrari has emerged as Mercedes’ closest challenger, leading portions of both the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix after strong starts from behind Mercedes’ front-row lockouts. However, the superior Mercedes package ultimately prevailed in both contests, while Ferrari dropped further back in Japan as McLaren stepped up to challenge Kimi Antonelli and George Russell’s dominance.
The Italian squad currently occupies second place in the constructors’ championship with 90 points, trailing Mercedes by 45 points after securing third-place finishes in all three races. Leclerc claimed the final podium position in Australia and Japan, while Lewis Hamilton finally achieved his first podium for the team at his 26th attempt during the Chinese Grand Prix.
Looking ahead to potential performance equalization measures, Leclerc expressed confidence in Ferrari’s ability to challenge Mercedes, particularly with the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) regulations on the horizon. After the Miami Grand Prix, power units deemed 2% behind the pace-setter will receive one upgrade allowance for 2026 and 2027, while those 4% behind will be permitted two annual upgrades.
“We are still very early on in the season, so yes, I do believe it’s possible,” Leclerc explained when asked about catching Mercedes in 2026. “The power unit optimization is probably the biggest difference between Mercedes and us at the moment. There’s also raw power, which we are lacking compared to them. But I think chassis-wise it is quite a strong car actually, and that’s probably our strength so far.”