Charles Leclerc snubs Red Bull and labels Mercedes as Ferrari’s main rival in 2023
Charles hopes for a competitive season with Mercedes and Aston Martin as his closest rivals.
Follow Us
Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton (Image Credits: Planet f1)
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has recently shared his thoughts on the team’s main rivals for the upcoming Formula One season. In a podcast interview with F1 Nation’s Beyond the Grid, Leclerc named Mercedes as Ferrari’s primary concern, rather than the reigning champions, Red Bull. However, the Monegasque driver also highlighted the potential threat posed by Aston Martin Racing.
When asked who he thinks his main rivals are, Charles quickly points out Mercedes. He said, “I am sure Mercedes will be in the fight,”. Leclerc’s predictions are not surprising, given the gains made by Mercedes over the winter. Although the Silver Arrows suffered a dip in form in 2022, they gave Ferrari their run for their money in the second half of the season. With this installment, many fans and drivers alike will be keeping an eye on them during the debut weekend of this season. And from the pre-season testing, it is evident that they have solved their porpoising problem, which was their primary concern for the ‘22 season.
However, Leclerc’s comments about Aston Martin may raise eyebrows. The British team has certainly made progress over the winter break. During pre-season testing, Aston Martin looked quick and competitive, and many observers believed that they could be the dark horse of the season.
Leclerc acknowledged this in the podcast, stating that he had “heard loads of things” about Aston Martin during the off-season. He was also quick to point out that it is difficult to draw conclusions from pre-season testing. Fuel levels, engine modes, and other factors can all affect lap times, so it is hard to know how quickly a team is until the first race of the season.
Discover: Frederic Vasseur is taking fan expectations on Ferrari as ‘positive pressure’
Charles Leclerc discusses his role in Ferrari’s Strategy under New Leadership
Ferrari finished second in the constructors’ championship, and Leclerc was the runner-up in the driver’s championship last season after starting the season on a high. Leclerc is determined to go one better this time around. With new leadership at the team under his former boss and Leclerc’s close ally, Fred Vasseur, Ferrari hopes to mount a serious challenge to the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull and ward off a repeat like last season.
The Ferrari driver has also spoken about his involvement in the matters strategy saying, “People don’t understand how little information we have in the car about the whole situation during a race. I strongly believe that if we get better as a team, when we are the best all together, that’s when we can win the world championship. We won’t win the world championship if I am making the decisions on my own in the car, this is not how it works. On that, I am convinced and so I will keep this approach”. Leclerc himself is also gunning for the championship, and he knows that he will need to be at his very best to beat the likes of Hamilton, Verstappen, and Alonso.
Leclerc’s comments suggest that we could be in for a thrilling season of Formula One. With Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Aston Martin all in the mix, there will surely be plenty of excitement and drama throughout the year. And if Ferrari can continue to make progress and make the right developments, then we could be in for a truly unforgettable season of racing.
In case you missed it:
Stay Updated!
Justin P Joy
(4859 Articles Published)