Leclerc claims following Verstappen's footsteps at Ferrari would be a ‘mistake'
· Yahoo Sports
Charles Leclerc has said it would be "a mistake" if he and Ferrari were to try and recreate Max Verstappen's path to success at Red Bull, opting to "focus on my own situation" in search of a first title with the Scuderia.
Although they trail Constructors' leaders Mercedes by 87 points after the latest round of action at the Dutch GP at Zandvoort, Ferrari have enjoyed a return to form after a dismal 2025 season, with both Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc securing wins at Barcelona and Silverstone, respectively.
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However, Leclerc sits in P5 in the Drivers' standings, 28 points behind his teammate Hamilton, who has carried out a remarkable turnaround from 2025 to become Ferrari's best hope of a title so far in 2026. The seven-time world champion trails Kimi Antonelli by 59 points in P3.
Leclerc: Trying to follow Verstappen's footsteps at Ferrari would be a 'mistake'
Photo: Race PicturesPhoto: Race Pictures
With Hamilton's scintillating 2026 form proving to be the toughest test yet for Ferrari's often-dubbed 'Chosen One' Leclerc, the Monegasque was asked at Zandvoort - upon the bombshell news of Verstappen's Red Bull contract renewal at his final home race - what he and Ferrari have to do to emulate the four-time world champion's success.
Speaking to media, including GPblog, Leclerc replied: "Max has obviously had an incredible career so far and has won four world championships. I didn't yet, but I think every situation is different. I think it will be a mistake for me to kind of follow the footsteps of what Max has done.
"And also because I have no idea what Max is doing inside the team in order to get this success. So it will be purely trying and imagining what it takes. And rather than doing that, I think I prefer to focus in my own situation in the team, trying to focus on the process."
Shifting focus instead to Ferrari's prospects in 2026, Leclerc praised the team for a strong first half of the season, and expressed optimism for the months ahead. The 28-year-old reiterated his belief that focusing only on what he can control is the best thing he can do to have "a bit of the success" Verstappen has had in F1.
"I think we have a very clear view on where we are as a team and what we can do in order to improve, what our weaknesses [are] against Mercedes particularly, [who] are the favorites at the moment, and where we need to work on," Leclerc continued.
"We've been working very well over the past few months to prepare for these new cars. I think we have had a strong first part of the year, but I also know what's the plan of the next few months and what's coming, and that makes me optimistic.
"Clearly, I'm focusing on what's inside the team, what I know, what I can control, and hopefully I can have a bit of the success that Max has had in the recent years."