Can Charles Leclerc turn his 2025 fortune at Austin GP?

Charles Leclerc heads into the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend carrying both hope and frustration. As the defending winner at Austin, he knows exactly what it takes to dominate here.

In fact, Austin 2024 was the last time Ferrari had a perfect weekend, with Sainz driving home the P2 last year. 

Yet, this 2025 season has been anything but consistent, leaving fans and Ferrari alike wondering if he can turn speed into results once again. With the championship now out of reach, the focus is clear: a podium, or better, a strong finish to end the year on a high.

The Monegasque started the season with flashes of brilliance, from qualifying dominance to early podiums, but those highs were offset by reliability issues, strategy missteps, and rare mistakes. It’s been a season of what-ifs, and for Leclerc, Austin is the perfect track to reclaim momentum.

Fast, flowing, and demanding precision, the COTA layout plays to his strengths — last year he turned a P4 into a commanding win, showing his comfort with the track and ability to manage a race from start to finish.

Yet, he arrives aware of the challenges. Leclerc has been candid about the Ferrari’s performance this year.

“The only thing that I will say changes from this year compared to other years is that we have a very specific weakness, in my opinion, which are slow-speed corners,"  Leclerc said about the SF-25.

After a P6 finish in Singapore, he said, “The car is snappy and unpredictable,” highlighting the difficulties he’s faced in getting consistent performance.

Austin, with its mix of long straights and technical sections, will test him once more — but also offers the chance to make a statement.

Combine that with Ferrari’s updated package for the latter part of the season, and there’s potential for him to extract another strong result. Consistency, smart tire management, and flawless strategy will be key. Even if a win is unlikely, a podium finish would mark a significant turnaround from the highs and lows of 2025.

But the field won’t make it easy on him, especially with the likes of McLaren and Red Bull who are fighting for the drivers title. 

With the drivers title well out of reach for Leclerc, Austin represents a chance for redemption and to regain confidence after a season of woes. Leclerc has the history, the skill now all he needs to do is deliver. 

What remains to be seen is whether he can turn his fortune around and remind the F1 paddock and Tifosi exactly what he’s capable of.