The recent performances in Montreal and at the Red Bull Ring, coupled with the early developments of the SF-23, have infused optimism within the Ferrari team after a less-than-enthralling start to the 2023 Formula One championship. In Austria, the Prancing Horse clearly appeared to be the second force on track, as demonstrated by both the Sprint, with Carlos Sainz finishing third, and the Sunday race, with Charles Leclerc finishing second.
President John Elkann has expressed his support for the Maranello team, attending the Red Bull Ring and praising the Italian side’s recent work, as they gradually try to regain their form. However, it won’t be an easy challenge, and the team expects a more challenging weekend at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, which begins today on the historic English circuit. The fast corners may not be particularly suitable for the SF-23.
Charles Leclerc, a guiding light for Ferrari
In a lengthy interview with the Italian daily newspaper La Stampa, Charles Leclerc began by discussing the last race: “The second place in Austria last Sunday lifted my spirits. I am very hard on myself. I quickly regain confidence. Every time I have worked on a weakness, I have improved rapidly. I am sure it will go better next time. The second place at the Red Bull Ring is a good starting point. We are heading in the right direction. At the moment, we don’t have the speed of Red Bull, but we have made a lot of progress in recent races. My feeling with the car has improved, and we are working in the right direction. I cannot talk about their car and how they will develop it, but by focusing on ourselves, I am confident that we will make it in the medium term.” – the Ferrari mai explained.
The driver from Monte Carlo then reiterated his complete loyalty to the Prancing Horse: “The exchange with Hamilton has been denied. Not by me, as I knew nothing about it. I have always been a fan of Ferrari, I have always loved it. That alone is a valid reason,” and he also spoke about his relationship with Frederic Vasseur: “We have known each other for many years, so he knows what kind of person and driver I am. We have a very honest and direct relationship. Whenever something doesn’t go well, we are not afraid to say what we think, and this makes us progress faster. We don’t beat around the bush. He has a very clear vision of what he intends to do with the team, and I fully share it. He gives me confidence. We talk about where we want to go and how to get there.”
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He also mentioned President John Elkann: “He came to see us in Austria, and as always, we had a meeting to discuss the current situation, where we want to go, and how,” before setting the goals for the 2023 Formula 1 season: “Perhaps Budapest will help us, as well as Zandvoort, but I don’t feel like saying that we will fight with Red Bull on these two tracks. For now, the gap is significant; they are too far ahead. However, there will still be Grand Prix races where we will make progress. Goals? At the first race of this year, my aim was to win both championships; that was the only thing on my mind. Now, finishing second among the constructors behind Red Bull and ahead of Aston Martin and Mercedes would be a good result. My personal goal is to finish third in the driver’s standings.” – Charles Leclerc concluded.
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