Charles Leclerc has become the second-most experienced driver in Ferrari\u2019s history in F1 2026 and now sits behind only seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher in terms of race starts.<\/p>\n
Leclerc moved clear of Kimi Raikkonen\u2019s tally with the Scuderia in China, but rather than being the team\u2019s most experienced driver, he wants to add a title-winning legacy to his time with the team.<\/p>\n
Charles Leclerc targets Ferrari title ahead of experience record<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Christened \u2018Il Predestinato\u2019<\/a> [\u2018The Predestined\u2019] after impressing in his early days as a Ferrari driver, Leclerc has taken 27 pole positions and eight race wins in red so far, without having been in a title-challenging position for a full season yet.<\/p>\n Leclerc sits on 154 Ferrari starts in Formula 1 and is currently on course to pass Schumacher\u2019s record of 180 by the middle of the 2027 campaign.<\/p>\n Now in his eighth season with the team, Leclerc spoke fondly of how he has been raised through the Scuderia\u2019s ranks, but knows that his focus remains on becoming its first title winner since Raikkonen in 2007.<\/p>\n More analysis from the Miami Grand Prix<\/p>\n Miami GP conclusions: Antonelli insecurity, Verstappen impatience, F1\u2019s TV fail<\/a><\/p>\n Miami Grand Prix driver ratings: Kimi Antonelli leads chaotic race weekend<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s strange,\u201d Leclerc told PlanetF1.com and others when that statistic was raised to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI still feel very young, and I remember my first year in Ferrari just like yesterday, but it\u2019s special.<\/p>\n \u201cI love the team. I\u2019ve grown up in this team even before I was a Formula 1 driver for Ferrari. I was in the Ferrari Driver Academy, so they saw me grow up and not only as a driver, but also as a person, so it\u2019s a very special place to drive for.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I wouldn\u2019t love to be reminded [remembered, sic] as the most experienced driver of Ferrari, I would love to be remembered as a world champion for Ferrari and this is still to to be done. That\u2019s where my focus is at.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t really know about this stat, actually. I\u2019m not really looking forward to becoming the first, but I just want to win a world championship.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m trying and working for every day and I hope that this day will come.\u201d<\/p>\n Leclerc currently sits third in the early 2026 season standings, having earned 59 points alongside two podium finishes.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n