© Charles Leclerc Facebook page
It was a thrilling night under the lights of Jeddah, as Charles Leclerc claimed his first podium finish of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Monegasque talent delivered a composed and calculated race, crossing the line in third place and signaling a strong upward trend for Scuderia Ferrari.
Starting from fourth, Leclerc stayed sharp at the launch, holding his ground through the opening laps. With Ferrari executing a clever pit strategy, Leclerc extended his first stint on medium tyres deep into the race, briefly leading the pack before making his stop. Thanks to a lightning-fast two-second pit from the Ferrari crew, he rejoined the action on fresh hard tyres, ready to attack.
The defining moment came on lap 38 when Leclerc pulled off a clean and confident move on George Russell, overtaking the Mercedes in turn one. From there, he maintained his position despite late pressure from Lando Norris, who was charging on fresher rubber. But Leclerc held firm, earning not only his 44th career podium but also reaffirming Ferrari's progress this season.
“It was a perfect execution all around—strategy, pit stops, everything,” Leclerc said post-race. “We’ve worked hard for this result and it’s great to see the team’s efforts pay off.”
Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur echoed the optimism, praising Leclerc’s calm and pace. “Charles was smart and patient. When he had clear air, he was flying. This result shows we're heading in the right direction.”
With Ferrari outscoring all other teams for the second race running, the momentum is clearly building. The team now sets its sights on Miami, where the championship continues in early May.