Scuderia Ferrari man Charles Leclerc has revealed the exact moment when he realized that even in 2023, despite the high expectations at the start of the new Formula One season, it would be another year without titles for him and the Italian side. After a strong finish to the championship last year, culminating in regaining second place from Sergio Perez in the final race in Abu Dhabi, the hope for the Maranello team was to fight for the championship this year.
Already in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc and Ferrari realized that 2023 would be another season of struggle
“Last winter, the motivation was extremely high,” said the Monegasque driver in an interview with motorsport.it. “Last year, we finished in second place in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. At that point, you only have one goal in mind: becoming world champions.” – he pointed out – “But already in the first race weekend in Bahrain, we understood that we were in a difficult situation. After the second Grand Prix, we definitively realized the scenario.” – the Monegasque added.
Charles Leclerc immediately understood the trend of the 2023 Formula 1 season. The SF23 was presented in grand style in front of the fans last February, with a shakedown at Fiorano. The enthusiasm was sky-high, but soon both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz realized that the car was designed with several problems to solve.
“You have to be able to accept it, and personally, I believe I have,” continued the Monegasque – “It was a bit like reliving 2020. Even three years ago, we immediately understood that the results would not be in line with expectations. These are tough moments. In these cases, the most important thing is to have a clear direction to work on, because it’s very easy to lose track.”
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“When you find yourself in these situations, it’s never for a single reason. I think there are multiple factors, each of which leads in the wrong direction. You have to identify these issues and tackle them one by one without questioning everything.” – the former Sauber driver continued.
Despite the current fourth place in the constructors’ standings ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Ferrari hasn’t lost its spirit, working tirelessly to bring forward all the planned updates according to the original development plan. The most recent result of their hard work was seen at the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium, with Charles Leclerc achieving an unexpected podium on the eve of the weekend.
“Compared to 2020, I had a better feeling. I’m convinced that we’re heading in the right direction, and everyone is pulling in the same direction. Of course, our rivals are also making progress, so it’s not easy to climb back. But our goal is still to return to the top as quickly as possible,” Charles Leclerc concludes.
Source: f1ingenerale
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