[Saba Sports News] Charles Leclerc is quietly cementing his place in Ferrari’s history books. As the 2026 Formula 1 season unfolds, the Monegasque driver has become the second-most capped driver in Ferrari’s history, only trailing seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher. By the end of the Miami Grand Prix, Leclerc officially overtook Kimi Räikkönen to claim second place on Ferrari’s all-time race starts list. So far, he has lined up for Ferrari in 154 Grands Prix, while Schumacher still holds the record with 180 starts. At his current pace, Leclerc is on track to surpass Schumacher midway through the 2027 season.
When asked about closing in on Schumacher’s historic record, Leclerc admitted it felt surreal. He still sees himself as young, and it feels like only yesterday that he made his debut for Ferrari. For Leclerc, Ferrari has never been just another team. He joined the Ferrari Driver Academy long before stepping into Formula 1, tying his destiny to the Italian marque from his teenage years onwards. Growing up through the junior ranks, making it to F1, evolving into the team’s undisputed lead driver, and now writing his own chapter in Ferrari’s legacy — this journey has forged an incomparable emotional bond with the team. Leclerc also revealed that he does not want to be remembered merely as Ferrari’s driver with the most race starts. What he truly aspires to be is remembered as a Ferrari World Champion.
In the editor’s opinion, Charles Leclerc is not only Ferrari’s most capped active driver, but also a triple pillar: an emotional icon, the sporting core, and a commercial cornerstone. His standing goes far beyond that of an ordinary driver, making him the modern embodiment of Ferrari’s spiritual legacy.