Formula 1 is a sport decided by laptimes. And few would argue the speed Charles Leclerc possesses over a single lap. However, Ferrari have a lot of work to do to challenge for the title. Many believe going away from the Scuderia, maybe to Mercedes, is his best option for winning a title. As he sees Max Verstappen win title after title, he is determined to stay at Ferrari.
Leclerc’s Special Connection
Charles Leclerc has a special connection with Ferrari in Formula 1. His godfather, Jules Bianchi, was being groomed for a Ferrari drive before his tragic crash in 2014. Ferrari also funded his junior career after he ran into financial problems. Currently, Arthur Leclerc, his brother, is also a part of the Ferrari Academy. This weekend at the Italian GP, he is also wearing a special helmet that reads, “One Dream, One Team”.
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Adjusting his Expectations with a difficult SF-23
Charles Leclerc stated a few weeks ago how the entire team had to readjust expectations in Bahrain. Having challenged Max Verstappen in early 2022, Leclerc sat in shock as Aston Martin jumped them. They were then jumped by Mercedes, and now McLaren as well.
Charles Leclerc explains how his car is “not oversteer-y” but rather unpredictable. This is why he found himself in the gravel and in the wall on so many occasions in 2023.
“Just Not Good Enough”
Last year, Ferrari proved that having the fastest car is not enough to win the championship. While Red Bull did out-develop them during the season, they were definitely faster early on. However, various mistakes from both Charles Leclerc and the team caused them to lose both titles.
However, Charles Leclerc is confident he and the team can turn things around. He wants to be the catalyst for this change and win titles with the team. This is why, despite a potential Mercedes seat knocking around, his loyalty lies with the Scuderia.
Although his loyalty is admirable, Charles Leclerc will surely be hurting from seeing Max Verstappen dominate Formula 1. If Ferrari do not turn things around, will he continue to stay there? Keep following us to find out.
