Charles Leclerc reflects on McLaren’s dominance in F1
For Ferrari, the Monza weekend is always special, but this year it holds an even deeper meaning for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque first cemented his bond with the Tifosi here with his unforgettable victory in 2019, and last year’s stunning and unexpected repeat win further reinforced the #16 driver’s special connection with the Temple of Speed. Speaking at the media day, Leclerc noted some similarities between this weekend and the one twelve months ago.
“I remember very well how I felt a year ago, and if I forget how Sunday went, I think the feeling was very similar,” Charles Leclerc told journalists at the circuit. “There was an awareness that it would be a very tough weekend, against McLarens that have an extra gear. But now I know how that Sunday ended: we managed to achieve something we didn’t think was possible. So this year, at least we know that winning is still possible, even if on paper we’re at a disadvantage. I can’t wait to get the car on track and see where we stand compared to them.”
McLaren Favored Everywhere
During the conference, Charles Leclerc also paid tribute to the legacies of Niki Lauda and Giorgio Armani. He highlighted Monza as one of the few circuits where, despite McLaren being the clear favorite, a surprise could be possible. “Realistically, there isn’t a track where we think we are stronger than McLaren,” the Monegasque said. “But there are circuits where we’ll be closer. For example, I hope Baku in qualifying, which has always been one of my favorite tracks. Monza has also been a race where we’ve occasionally had surprises. Then there’s Singapore and Las Vegas: Las Vegas is so unique that sometimes something unexpected can happen. In Singapore, qualifying is crucial.” – he pointed out
Frustration but Motivation Remains
The #16 Ferrari driver admitted to feeling some frustration seeing how easily Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris can compete for wins with their McLaren. “Knowing I can’t beat them, except in special circumstances, is frustrating,” he acknowledged. “Unfortunately, I’ve felt this way for a while, because I haven’t yet had a car—except perhaps at the start of 2022—capable of regularly fighting for victories. But this doesn’t change my motivation. In fact, maybe I turn this anger into motivation, because it makes you want to achieve more, even when on paper it doesn’t seem realistic. And if you do it, like we did here last year, the joy is even greater.” – Charles Leclerc concluded ahead of the Italian Grand Prix weekend.
Leave a Reply