Leclerc challenges the cabal: zero Ferrari victories after announcing a contract on the last 19 occasions

Will Leclerc break the spell? The Monaco GP seemed haunted for Charles Leclerc. Before the victory of the liberation in 2024 the Monegasque had experienced a decidedly colorful range of atrocious mockery. Already in F2 when he dominated throughout 2017 he had to retire from the race due to suspension damage perhaps attributable to a contact with the wall in qualifying. What happened in F2 was nothing more than the prelude to the disappointment of 2021 when he failed to start after taking pole in qualifying. Leclerc ended Q3 early due to the accident at the second chicane of the Piscine, an accident that took its toll less than 24 hours later. The absolute ‘masterpiece’ of cruelty of fate towards Leclerc took place in 2022 when the Ferrari pit wall managed the astonishing feat of transforming Leclerc’s pole position into a fourth place finish behind Perez, Sainz and Verstappen. Now Leclerc and Ferrari are challenging another cabal in the 2026 edition. The Leclerc-Ferrari duo has just announced the renewal of their contract and on the last 19 occasions – starting with Kimi Raikkonen’s renewal for 2009 announced in September 2008 – in which Ferrari announced a renewal or the arrival of a new driver, the victory in the immediately following GP did not come. Leclerc and Ferrari will therefore try to dispel a taboo that has lasted since 2007, the very year in which the last World Drivers’ title came for Ferrari.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-06-04 21:00:00