Charles Leclerc admits his ambitions with Ferrari this season transcend a number of wins however concedes that the true potential of the Scuderia will solely be revealed after the primary race.
Whereas occasional victories have punctuated his journey in F1, the Monegasque driver yearns for a season the place Ferrari is really within the title hunt.
In 2022, the primary yr of the game’s floor impact guidelines, Ferrari hit the bottom operating solely to see its title aspirations crumble as a consequence of technique blunders and automotive points.
Final season, the Italian outfit was hindered by a troubled automotive idea that left Leclerc winless whereas teammate Carlos Sainz secured in Singapore the staff’s solely win and the one non-Crimson Bull victory of the yr.
Unveiled earlier this week, Ferrari’s new SF-24 goals to bridge the efficiency hole with the mighty bulls. The staff’s ambition is evident: to return to common race-winning type.
Learn additionally:
Nonetheless, when requested if he could be glad with two or three wins as a part of his staff’s progress, Leclerc’s response was determined.
“No, it’s not sufficient,” he quipped. “I wish to win as many races as attainable, and we’ll do the rely on the finish of the yr, to additionally perceive the place we’ll be after the primary race to grasp how aggressive are.
“It’s very tough to attract an image of the place we’ll stand after the primary race, it is going to rely upon that as nicely, however two or three is just not my goal, I wish to win as many races as attainable.
“2023 for me was no victories, I can’t wait to be again on the highest step of the rostrum and along with Ferrari, particularly. So I’m absolutely motivated.”
©Ferrari
Whereas Leclerc acknowledges the issue of closing the hole solely on Crimson Bull in 2024, he is drawing important encouragement from Ferrari’s confirmed potential to adapt and battle again from adversity.
The staff’s mid-season resurgence final yr highlighted the Scuderia’s grit and the potential to problem for the highest spot.However the query stays: can they maintain this momentum and eventually overcome Crimson Bull’s dominance?
Solely time will inform, however Ferrari’s combating spirit and Leclerc’s steadfast perception recommend an thrilling season forward for the Scuderia.
“I feel 2023, as a lot because it was a disappointing season as an entire, as a result of we weren’t combating for the positions we needed to battle, I feel it’s been an excellent response from the staff because the first race, when it was a disappointing end result,” Leclerc famous.
“However particularly the second a part of the season has been actually good, the momentum of the staff and the instructions we took and the completely different selections that we took within the second half of the season have been all actually good and introduced us to get bought nearer and nearer, in a short time, to Crimson Bull.
“Our objective is certainly to start out on the sturdy foundation that we began on final yr after which have the same development to place Crimson Bull underneath stress as quickly as attainable in the course of the season.
“To let you know whether or not it’s sufficient now to place them underneath stress from the primary race onwards is unattainable for me to let you know.
“However one factor is certain is that we’ve labored actually, very well within the second half of the yr, that our instructions have been clearly given and now we have to see within the first race the place we discover ourselves.”
Preserve updated with all of the F1 information through Fb and Twitter
