Charles Leclerc inadvertently let slip sensitive information about Ferrari's engine after the Formula 1 race in Azerbaijan. The moment was caught on camera by Sky Italy during the post-race media session in Baku, as the Monegasque spoke with his press officer.
The race at the Baku City Circuit was a mixed weekend for Leclerc and Ferrari. He impressed in qualifying by taking second place, but his SF-26's performance dropped off dramatically in the race. Leclerc struggled against the dominant Mercedes, and also found himself in a tight battle with Oscar Piastri's McLaren and the Red Bull duo.
For much of the race, Leclerc was stuck in fifth place. He only moved up to fourth after Piastri made a mistake that sent him tumbling down the order. It was a bitter blow for Ferrari, who had hoped to challenge at the front.
An Awkward Media Moment
When Sky Italy asked whether his SF-26 was running the latest-spec ADUO 2 power unit, Leclerc answered candidly. “I had the latest specification,” he said, then turned to his press officer and added, “I don't know if I'm saying something I shouldn't. But I thought you knew.”
The press officer's seemingly panicked reaction suggested that the information was meant to be kept under wraps. The moment became a hot topic in the paddock, given that Ferrari are usually very secretive about their engine details.
Performance Woes Return
Ferrari have indeed been grappling with race pace issues that plagued them in previous regulation eras. At the start of the 2026 season, the problem seemed resolved, with Ferrari stronger in qualifying. However, recent races have shown a reverse trend: they start at the front but struggle to maintain position.
Leclerc urged the team to keep developing the car, especially as McLaren and Red Bull continue to bring upgrades that make them stronger. “They were very strong,” Leclerc said of Mercedes. “McLaren were also strong – not maybe as strong as Red Bull, but Red Bull were particularly strong. We know they have a very strong power unit, so this is a good race for them, but still.”
“We were quite far off Mercedes, far off Red Bull, a bit behind McLaren – these are our competitors, and it's not new. It's been quite a few races now that we're losing a little bit of track to them, so it's important that we react to that and that we bring upgrades in order to close the gap again.”
The early hope that surrounded Ferrari and especially Lewis Hamilton at the start of the season seems to be fading. The Maranello team are resigned to fighting for runner-up positions in the championship, while Mercedes and Red Bull continue to pull away.
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