Charles Leclerc: “Now we have to work harder than ever to fight for the title”. Charles on his win in Bahrain.

Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc admitted that it was ‘incredible’ to be ‘back in a car that was capable of winning’ after he scored the Maranello team’s first race win since 2019. Charles Leclerc emerged victorious at the season-opener in Bahrain after a close battle with Max Verstappen, as Red Bull suffered two late retirements with the Dutch driver and Sergio Perez who were forced to stop after complaining of a battery problem in the final laps of the Sakhir event.

Charles Leclerc said he was proud of his performance during the ‘tough race’ and credited his team for their contribution. Interviewed by Sky Sport F1 after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc did not want to hide. The car is finally strong and therefore the Monegasque driver feels the goal should now be the one which all Ferrari fans dream of, but are afraid to pronounce: the Formula 1 world title: “Bahrain is not always representative of the pace that we will see throughout the year – acknowledged the Monegasque driver – and therefore it does not mean that it will go like this all year round. But it does mean that we are there, more or less. Now we have to work harder than ever to try and win this title. Even if it is very early in the year, but I believe in it and I want to believe in it, otherwise it is useless to be on the track”. – the Ferrari driver admitted.

“I always want to win” – added Charles Leclerc, who is world championship leader for the first time in his career, in his fifth season in Formula 1 – “this year it seems that we have the car to be in the fight for the title. Then we must continue to fight for our goal”. Compared to 2021 and especially 2020, Ferrari’s progress has been incredible. However, there is one aspect more than others that struck Charles Leclerc: “The step forward in terms of engine was enormous – he admitted – this is thanks to the team. But the car in general is fine, the balance is good. In my opinion it is the result of two years of hard work, when we understood how we wanted to work and what we as drivers needed to make the most of our driving style” – Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc concluded.