Charles Leclerc has warned that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are very much back in the mix, with the Dutchman not "leaving anything on the table".
Red Bull has made huge strides since introducing a new floor at the Italian GP and is unbeaten since fitting the upgrade to Verstappen's RB21.
Verstappen has won back-to-back races, reducing his deficit in the drivers' title to 69 points with seven rounds remaining.
It has also brought Red Bull back into contention for second in the constructors' championship, a position Ferrari has held for much of the campaign.
However, recent struggles has seen Ferrari fall to third behind Mercedes, while only 18 points separate the Silver Arrows, the Scuderia and Red Bull in fourth.
Other than McLaren, Red Bull is the only team to have won multiple races this campaign, with Ferrari still yet to claim a grand prix victory in 2025.
Verstappen and Red Bull's recent form has convinced Leclerc that the Milton Keynes-based outfit has moved ahead of Ferrari in terms of performance, although does not believe it is back to dominating the sport.
"I think Max is not leaving anything on the table, that's for sure," Leclerc told select media, including RacingNews365.
"I think they've done a big step forward with the car, and they are now at a very strong level as well.
"I don't think that it's been a very smooth weekend for McLaren in the last two races. So, I don't think that Red Bull is now dominating again.
"I think it's very close between McLaren and Red Bull, but Max is doing a better job at the moment."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix! Oscar Piastri's shock Baku crashes are a major talking point, as is whether Max Verstappen has drawn himself back into the F1 title fight.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!