Leclerc ‘not looking forward’ to beating Schumacher’s Ferrari record

Charles Leclerc is quietly closing in on Michael Schumacher's record for most Ferrari race starts, but the Monegasque driver isn't interested in the stat. With 154 appearances in red, he's expected to eclipse Schumacher's 180 during the 2027 season. Yet Leclerc made it clear that longevity alone means nothing without a drivers' title.

Why it matters:

Leclerc's looming milestone highlights a deeper tension at Ferrari. Schumacher delivered five world championships in those 180 starts. Leclerc, Ferrari's emotional core since 2019, has zero. The record risks defining him as the team's longest-serving driver without a title, a legacy he actively rejects.

The big picture:

Ferrari has built its modern project around Leclerc's prime years. He remains the tifosi's favorite and a relentless qualifier, but the ultimate prize remains elusive. Team principal Fred Vasseur downplays the numbers: “I'm not a big fan of statistics... we are much more focused on performance.” The clock is ticking, however. F1 history is full of elite drivers who ran out of time waiting for Ferrari to return to the top.

What's next:

Leclerc's contract runs through at least 2029, making the record almost certain. But his focus is elsewhere. “I wouldn't love to be remembered as the most experienced driver of Ferrari. I would love to be remembered as a world champion for Ferrari,” he said. The real question is whether Ferrari can deliver a championship-winning car before his prime fades.