Charles Leclerc still believes in victory
In an interview with the BBC, Charles Leclerc reflects on his difficult start to the season at the helm of an unpredictable single-seater. The Monegasque driver from Ferrari still believes that victory is possible.
After a season start far from expectations, Charles Leclerc heads to Monza with ambitions. At home, the Monegasque wants to do well and despite the significant gap with Red Bull, he maintains a conquering mindset. « Of course, before the weekend, you know that if nothing happens to them, they (the Red Bull) will be in a league of their own come Sunday. But every time I close my visor, I still believe in it. I always think it’s something I can do. A victory is still possible and I will always give everything I have to win. So, there is no lack of motivation. »
Last season, Leclerc and his team had a great season. After a strong start for Ferrari, the Scuderia had a difficult second part of the season and Max Verstappen took the lead and dominated the season. At the beginning of the 2023 season, it was legitimate to expect Charles Leclerc to perform well after his second place in the world championship, but things didn’t go as planned and the driver admits it: « At the start of the season, I struggled a lot ». A car that was not as fast as expected, but above all very difficult to maneuver. « The most tricky thing is that I generally like cars that oversteer. The problem with this year’s car is that it’s not an oversteering car, but a very unpredictable car. »
A SF23 battered by the wind
Also, the five-time Grand Prix winner explains his difficulties as being caused by the influence of the wind on the SF23: “« The wind direction has affected us much more than our competitors, and obviously, when going in circles, we always end up with a tailwind at some point, and that is not a very comfortable position. It was impossible for the driver to anticipate. Today, we still have this limitation in the car. It’s much better than at the beginning of the season, but it’s still there.” », Leclerc explains.
“In a season like this, it’s difficult as a driver because when you have a good race, nobody really notices it because you’re kind of in the middle of nowhere,” added the driver.
So, is it already a forgettable season or can the former Sauber driver still, with a stroke of luck, go for a victory? Let’s not forget that Monza has delivered surprises in recent years.
