Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc admitted on Wednesday ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix that he is more focused on the 2023 campaign rather than the battle with Red Bull rival Sergio Perez for P2 in this season’s Formula 1 Championship
The Red Bull driver starts the Brazilian weekend with a five-point advantage over the Monegasque, with two rounds to go from the current championship.
“My mind is mostly focused on next year.” – Charles Leclerc said, in a discussion with reporters at a media event in Sao Paulo – “Of course we’ll do everything to try and get the best results possible for the last two races but the most important is to try to build on these last two races in order to be a better team next year. But by doing it I hope we can still clinch second place in the drivers’ championship.” – the Ferrari driver continued.
Charles Leclerc won two out of the first three races this year and secured nine pole positions in 20 events so far in 2022, but due to a series of reliability issues and some questionable strategy calls from the Maranello pit wall did not allow the Monegasque to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the championship, as the Dutchman took his second title with four rounds until the end of the campaign.
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Sergio Perez has won two races this season and Red Bull confirmed that it will now focus and helping the Mexican take P2 in the Drivers’ standings:
“We might be constructors’ champions but as a team, and for me personally, it is hugely important to secure a one-two in the drivers’ championship,” he said in a team preview of the weekend’s print race at Interlagos – “I am going into the final two races of the season still feeling like I have everything to win,” the Mexican insisted.
Asked about when he finally accepted the Formula 1 title title was no longer a realistic target this season, Charles Leclerc explained: “Many people believe that this moment is the French Grand Prix, but for me it was in Spa. During the summer break, I believed that we still had the possibility to stay in the race until the end. Then the Belgian Grand Prix arrived and it was the first weekend of the season in which Red Bull was truly superior in terms of pace. After that weekend I thought it would be very difficult to keep our chances intact in the world championship.” – the Ferrari driver pointed out, ahead of the Brazil Grand Prix.
Scuderia Ferrari have a 40-point advantage over Mercedes in the duel for P2 in the Constructors’ Championship.
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