Leclerc takes charge at Ferrari after Monaco crash exposes long-running frustration

Charles Leclerc is communicating with Ferrari in a markedly different way in 2026, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Naomi Schiff, who pointed to the 28-year-old’s behaviour in the aftermath of his Monaco Grand Prix retirement as evidence of a driver no longer willing to absorb blame quietly.

Leclerc’s home race in Monte Carlo ended in the barriers after a race restart, the driver attributing the crash to brake problems. Speaking to the media afterwards, he declined to accept personal responsibility — a notable departure from his more self-critical stance in previous seasons. He was also seen in what appeared to be a heated exchange with Ferrari personnel in the garage.

Schiff, speaking on the Up To Speed podcast following Kimi Antonelli’s victory in Monaco, said the change in Leclerc’s demeanour has been building throughout the season.

“I’ve seen a difference in Charles this year in the way that he handles situations, the way that he communicates what he needs and wants from the team,” Schiff said. “Sometimes over the radio this year, I think he has been a lot more demanding. He’s not anymore like he almost feels like he owes something to the team. He’s like, ‘OK, right. If we want to start winning championships, this is what I need from you. Give me this. Don’t give me this.’”

Schiff was careful to acknowledge that the dynamic runs both ways. “Charles obviously doesn’t always get it right, but Ferrari also, on very many occasions, doesn’t get it right,” she added, framing the shift as a driver asserting himself rather than simply pointing fingers.

The assessment carries weight given the context of Leclerc’s career at Ferrari — a partnership that has produced moments of brilliance alongside well-documented strategic and mechanical failures. A more directive Leclerc, Schiff suggested, could be a sign of a driver who has decided that deference alone will not deliver a championship.

Leclerc and Ferrari will look to regroup at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, scheduled for 12-14 June.