Charles Leclerc is closing in on one of Michael Schumacher's most enduring Ferrari records—but the Monegasque driver isn't celebrating. In fact, he's admitted he's "not looking forward" to surpassing the legendary German's mark for most Grand Prix starts with Scuderia Ferrari, and the reason is simple: he still hasn't won a Formula 1 world title.
The 28-year-old moved up to second on Ferrari's all-time starts list during the Miami Grand Prix, marking his 154th appearance for the team. Leclerc first joined Ferrari in 2019, replacing Kimi Räikkönen after just one full season in F1. Since then, he's become the face of the Scuderia—but for him, quantity of starts isn't the goal.
Schumacher sits at the top of that list with 180 races for Ferrari between 1996 and 2006. During that golden era, the German won five consecutive world championships from 2000 to 2004. Leclerc, by contrast, is still chasing his first title—and that's what stings.
"It's strange," Leclerc told RacingNews365. "I still feel very young, and I remember my first year at Ferrari just like yesterday. But it's special." Yet his tone quickly turned serious: "I wouldn't love to be remembered as the most experienced driver of Ferrari. I would love to be remembered as a world champion for Ferrari, and this is still to be done. That's where my focus is at. I didn't really know about this stat, actually."
Leclerc's journey to this point has been remarkable. He joined Ferrari from Sauber after rising through the team's Driver Academy and winning both the GP3 and F2 titles as a rookie. His raw speed and passion for the Scuderia have made him a fan favorite, but the ultimate prize remains elusive.
His closest shot at the title came in 2022, when he finished second in the standings. But Red Bull's relentless development—and Max Verstappen's dominance—pulled ahead, leaving Leclerc to watch another championship slip away. Now, with Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari in 2025 and questions swirling about the team's ability to unlock his potential, Leclerc's hunger for a title has only intensified.
"I'm not really looking forward to becoming the first," Leclerc said bluntly. "I just want to win a world championship. That's what I'm trying and working for every day, and I hope that this day will come."
For fans wearing the iconic red, Leclerc's honesty is refreshing. He doesn't want to be remembered for showing up—he wants to be remembered for winning. And until that first title arrives, breaking Schumacher's record will feel more like a bittersweet milestone than a triumph.