Charles Leclerc says now Ferrari is in a position to fight for a Formula 1 world championship he longer needs to “overdo things” to make up for its pace deficit.
After winning two of the opening three rounds this season, Leclerc is leading the drivers’ championship for the first time in his career, holding a 34-point cushion over Mercedes driver George Russell.
Ferrari’s upturn in form marks its best start to a campaign in the V6 hybrid era, as it attempts to end a 15-year wait for a drivers’ title.
With the Italian outfit now firmly in the championship picture, Leclerc admits this has led to him changing his mindset “a little bit” to previous years.
“I’ve been in this situation in the junior categories but then to be in this situation in Formula 1 means a lot, especially after the last few years, and especially with a team like Ferrari,” Leclerc said, as quoted by Race Fans.
“Obviously, the mindset is a bit different compared to the last two years. Now I know that underneath me I’ve got a car that is capable of winning and I don’t really have to overdo things or to do something extremely special and spectacular to actually get one or two positions.
“I know that it’s in the car and I just have to do the job. So the mindset is a little bit different this year.”
Ferrari hasn’t had it all its own way so far this year with Red Bull proving a close match at the first two rounds, particularly in Saudi Arabia where Max Verstappen triumphed after a late battle with Leclerc.
While Red Bull’s poor reliability has left it playing catch up in the title race, Leclerc expects the team to mount a fight back in the coming races.
“To keep up with Red Bull in terms of development is going to be difficult, but it’s the same team that did this car, that will work on the development for this year’s car, so I am confident,” Leclerc said.
“There is no reason for us to be on the back foot because we’ve done a great job. The guys at Maranello have done a great job, building up this car for this year.”
Ferrari heads to the first of its two home races this year at Imola next weekend where it is yet to finish on the podium since the circuit returned to the F1 calendar in 2020.
Leclerc stresses he isn’t dwelling too much on the current championship situation, urging Ferrari to not put more pressure on itself given how well it has performed so far in 2022.
“34 points is always good to take wherever you are in the calendar but I don’t want to focus too much on the championship for now,” Leclerc said.
“Italy will be incredible, but we need to approach the race weekend, just like we approached the first three weekends.
“I think it’s extremely important not to put on ourselves extra pressure and not try to overdo things, because we are working, I think, as a team extremely well since the beginning of the season.
“We just need to keep doing our job, just like we did in the first three weekends.”
Comments.
Loading comments…