Charles Leclerc discloses his true aspirations for the last five Formula 1 races of 2026.

“As everyone is aware, P2 is preferable to P3, and P3 is better than P4, so we will aim to maximize our potential,” Leclerc stated.

Instead, the Ferrari racer emphasized that his primary goal is to win races before the season wraps up, with a second-place finish being a natural byproduct if he succeeds.

“[What matters most to me] is to optimize each race, one after another, with the goal of securing some wins before the season ends. If we achieve that, then P2 will be a natural outcome for the championship, but if not, then we will find it challenging to finish P2. However, I’m not fixated on ending up second in the drivers’ championship.”

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Leclerc has claimed only one grand prix victory this year, with Silverstone earning him the complete 25 points. Although his team is experiencing an upsurge in performance, it may be too little, too late.

“I feel that we are currently riding a good wave,” he remarked. “Whether a win is achievable remains to be seen, as we are undoubtedly facing very strong competitors, and it’s not every weekend that we have the pace to secure a race win.”

Leclerc’s perspective is quite similar to that of Russell, the driver he is pursuing, who expressed earlier on Thursday that second place doesn’t hold much allure for him either.

“For every driver on the grid, there’s only one position that truly matters, and that’s P1,” the Brit remarked. “Being the best of the rest isn’t something you aspire to as a child. In this sport, if it’s not P1, it’s really either that or nothing.”