Leclerc answerless after crushing fall to Piastri: 'I'm at a loss for words'

19:05, 22 Jul

Updated: 20:41, 22 Jul

byNorberto Mujica

Charles Leclerc has admitted that McLaren’s dominance in 2025 has left Ferrari, and the rest of the grid, searching for answers.

Speaking to media at Silverstone, including GPblog, Leclerc praised the step forward McLaren has made with its MCL39, calling it one of the most impressive leaps seen in the final year of a regulation cycle.

"I wish I knew what made McLaren so fast this year," Leclerc said after McLaren sealed another commanding 1-2 finish at the British Grand Prix.

"For sure, they’ve done a significant step forward, something that I don’t think many of us expected, because when you get to the last year of those regulations, everything tends to converge a little bit."

"But this year they just did a big step forward. I doubt that it’s coming from one thing. It never comes from only one thing."

"I think it’s just many different things that they are doing better than others, which makes a big difference at the end."

Tyre Management in Hot Conditions a Key Factor

One of McLaren’s biggest strengths appears to be their ability to extract tyre performance in high temperatures, which Leclerc admitted Ferrari are still struggling to understand.

"But it is true that one of the characteristics that [has] significantly improved since last year is hot weather," Leclerc explained.

"I think I remember there was an FP3 in Bahrain this year where I’m still wondering how did Oscar do that lap time in that heat, which was very impressive."

"There are these kinds of laps that you look and you say... you’re just a bit lost for words and you don’t really understand where the performance comes from."

"So they found something, especially whenever it’s warm and on tyres, that we’re still trying to figure out."

Charles Leclerc on damp slick tyres at Silverstone

McLaren’s advantage grows

With nine wins in 12 races and a 238-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren’s improvements have all but confirmed pre-season predictions of a close fight between multiple teams.

Ferrari, sitting second in the standings, remain the closest challenger, but for now, even Leclerc admits that unlocking McLaren’s secret remains a mystery.