Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc was interviewed by the Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport and talked about the 2022 Formula 1 season, his future with the Maranello team and expectations in terms of F1 title, but also about when a woman could arrive in F1.
Here is Charles’ interview for Corriere dello Sport:
Max Verstappen is about to become 2022 F1 world champion. Will you have a feeling of annoyance or regret that day?
Charles Leclerc: “There is regret because the F1-75 had excellent performances, but we lost valuable points during the year. The right thing to do is to focus on my future: maximize the results in these last races, end well, work on 2023. The imponderable is part of our sport and every title is deserved.”
Is Max Verstappen stronger today or Lewis Hamilton last year?
Charles Leclerc: I don’t know: with Max I have occasions of comparison that I didn’t have with Lewis. We were too distant.”
How many wins realistically as a goal this year?
Charles Leclerc: “My heart says 5/5, my head said 3 before Singapore..”
Does your 2022 look more like a won or lost bet?
Charles Leclerc: “I look at 2021 and say what a step forward! Who would’ve bet one year ago on Ferrari being so competitive this season?”
What weights more for you: satisfactions or disappointments?
Charles Leclerc: “I always focus more on negative things: I’m like this. I think this pays off because in the end it helps me improve.”
When you do a mistake you insult yourself: don’t you think you are too hard on yourself?
Charles Leclerc: “To be honest with me and Ferrari means trying to improve. The mistakes hurt me, so I need to be hard to try to get out of that pain and make a step forward. But well, I’m not losing sleep on it.”
What is this season teaching you?
Charles Leclerc: “To grow through the attention to details: it’s what made me not repeat the mistakes of Imola and France. But with experience the room for improvement diminishes.”
What’s Carlos Sainz better than you at?
Charles Leclerc: “Maybe the use of simulator, maybe making the setups to which I didn’t use to give as much weight. But observing him I started to do that regularly”
Do you consider yourself a patient guy?
Charles Leclerc: “Certainly more than I was in the past, but it remains my flaw: my mistakes were due to impatience.”
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How many years can you wait to win the title?
Charles Leclerc: “I want it as soon as possible, if we keep working and improving like this it will come soon.”
Before the 2026 season, the date indicated by president John Elkann.
Charles Leclerc: “Possible, but we need further steps ahead. I have faith in the Ferrari project. I say what I want clearly and we are in this together with the team, no different visions.”
Likely goal for the next season?
Charles Leclerc: “Very difficult to say because it also depends on how rivals will work, which is completely out of our control. I’m confident. We need to continue to work hard and we will make it.”
If Ferrari proposed you a lifelong contract would you sign or would you think about it?
Charles Leclerc: “To stay in red forever would be wonderful. To drive for Ferrari is every driver’s dream and I’m living it.”
Is Lewis Hamilton for Formula 1 what Federer was for tennis?
Charles Leclerc: “Yes, both sport legends”
Does style exist in Formula 1?
Charles Leclerc: “Yes even though it isn’t clearly visible because there’s no athletic gesture in the foreground”
How would you define your style?
Charles Leclerc: “Aggressive and versatile. The capacity to adapt is the most important element: in quali you don’t drive like in the race, same goes with new/old tyres. I believe I’ve proved it when we switched to ground-effect cars”.
How do you imagine your farewell to Formula 1?
Charles Leclerc: “I don’t do that but I would like it to be sad for Formula 1, that would mean that I left a mark on this sport and that’s my goal”.
How did you imagine Formula 1 when you were a kid?
Charles Leclerc: “Like kart races: go, wear racing suit, start the engine and drive. Now I know days are full of meetings and never end. But I don’t mind, it’s ok.”
Do you recognize yourself in the driver heroic dimension?
Charles Leclerc: “I see that in kids’ eyes. In Singapore a kid started crying when he met me. It was a beautiful moment because he was me when I dreamt of Formula 1. But when we’re adults we don’t have to believe that, of course: we’re not heroes.”
When a woman in F1?
Charles Leclerc: “I’ve been following the women-only racing series for a while. Jamie Chadwick is doing very well and it would be fair to give women a chance in F3 or F2, in the hope of having one in the championship. But if a girl ever gets to F1, it should be for merit, not with the boost of the social message”
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