If not for the temporary blight that was Canada through to Great Britain, Charles Leclerc could be a real championship contender right now. This weekend in Baku secures the first pole for Leclerc since Monaco, where he won for the first time this season. It proves exactly what whispers have begun to say: that quietly and almost unnoticed, Leclerc has become a serious powerhouse this season.
It’s been a running joke ever since the Dutch Grand Prix that Leclerc is the central driving force protecting Max Verstappen’s championship lead this season. After some phenomenal and completely unexpected defensive driving from the Monegasque, Verstappen’s second place in the Netherlands was protected from the far quicker McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Viewers expected the pass to be easy and that Leclerc’s podium position was a lost cause, but he heroically managed to keep the Aussie behind and, at the same time, prevented him from threatening the 18 points Verstappen managed to secure that weekend.
The same could be said for Monza, the following fortnight. No one expected Leclerc to win that race. But a daring strategy from Ferrari and some exceptional tyre management from Leclerc secured them the race win that weekend. It was his second win at his team’s home race and none less sensational than his first five years before. In the dwindling red smoke, however, people began to see the truth of this season. That, with Red Bull falling behind, Leclerc appears to be the only one capable of keeping the McLarens at bay. At Monza, what could’ve been another ten or seventeen points closed between Norris and Verstappen was restrained by a performance from Leclerc that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Securing pole in Baku is the least surprising performance from Charles Leclerc this season. Everyone knows how good he can be on this track, even Leclerc himself. This marks his fourth pole in Azerbaijan and, despite never having won here, it’s not farfetched to presume Leclerc will be able to continue his string of favourable results this weekend. If he can defend against Piastri behind him and avoid any bad luck at a track as tricky as Baku, Leclerc could see his third-race win this season.
But is Leclerc’s recent success a fluke or can we seriously begin to consider him a championship contender despite only 8 races being left this season?
Looking back at track history, it’s clear that Leclerc has consistently had the upper hand at street tracks like Baku and with Singapore, Brazil and Las Vegas all on the upcoming calendar, it doesn’t appear unbelievable to think that Leclerc’s success could continue beyond this weekend. At the moment, he stands 86 points behind Verstappen and 24 behind Norris. Undoubtedly, second place in the championship could be within reach (especially after Norris’ failure to make Q2 this weekend) but is the win beyond the bounds of possibility?
Arguably… no.
It might take a miracle, but considering the recent fumbles from McLaren and the consistently mediocre performances from Red Bull, it doesn’t appear as contrived as a suggestion that it might have been last season or the one before.
We have witnessed some miraculous comebacks in the history of Formula 1. In recent memory: Sebastian Vettel in both 2010 and 2012, and Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Closing an 86-point gap in 8 races would surely put Charles Leclerc in the history books. It would take a couple of 0-point finishes from Norris and Verstappen ahead and some phenomenal drives from the Monegasque, but it’s not entirely unfathomable. After another qualifying outside of the top-5 for Verstappen and a start from 17th for Norris this weekend, hope might not all be completely lost for the Monegasque.
It is, however, unlikely.
Ferrari’s current form gives hope to Tifosi and Leclerc fans alike, though. It feels like an age since the Italian team was last in a championship fight, especially considering how fleeting the 2022 title lead was. This team seems to be born anew from the one that arguably threw away any chances at a championship that season, however. Since the summer break, Ferrari has been consistently strong both with their car and in terms of strategy. If they can carry this upward trend through to 2026, they might be able to provide Charles Leclerc with his first real chance at a championship in his Formula 1 career.
Looking at the driver, we don’t need to ask if Leclerc himself is ready. All season, he has been a force to be reckoned with in nearly every area. His tyre management has been incomparable, his race pace is strong and he appears more confident in himself than ever before. If Ferrari can provide him with a car that is strong both in qualifying and on race day, it’s unquestionable whether or not Leclerc can make himself a championship contender. Unlike in 2022, Leclerc has a team and a team principal prepared to back him up and who can help push him forward in a championship, not drag him back. Debatably, this is exactly what he needs to finally secure the championship both he and Ferrari have craved for so long.
Sebastian Vettel described Leclerc as “the most talented driver [he] came across in 15 years of F1”. When asked to name the one driver most likely to win a championship title in the future, Verstappen named Leclerc. Even his future teammate, 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, said he had “the potential to do great things” in his rookie season of Formula 1. Clearly, he’s rated by those who have won before him. It doesn’t mean everything, but it definitely means something.
“I still believe that the highest goals can be achieved – which means the championship.”
Leclerc hasn’t given up on the hopes of a title with Ferrari and the media shouldn’t disregard him, either. Securing another vice-championship will give Leclerc the confidence to believe his chances have not yet left him and, surely, it will add fuel to the fire for the talented young driver. Whether it can happen this year, we don’t know. It would be sensational, for sure. But it still remains a distant dream for the driver from Monaco.
Thinking Formula 
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