Leclerc: We could have fought for the title, but we failed

Charles Leclerc gave an extensive interview in which he spoke honestly about Ferrari’s strengths and weaknesses and summarized the 2022 season.

Q: Your season started with two wins, but then Max Verstappen turned the situation to his advantage. When did you feel the title slipping from your hands?
Charles Leclerc: I believed in the title until the end of the season – I had to believe. In Barcelona we got an updated car, which allowed us to take a step forward, but then came the disappointment, because we could hardly squeeze anything out of the new products.

The engine failed in Barcelona, ​​we made a strategic mistake in Monaco, the engine broke down again in Baku, then there was a penalty in Canada. Then the downward trend started. We had the speed to win races, but we failed. It was hard to accept.

Q: Ferrari had a wide working range from the start, the car worked carefully with rubber, but then the advantage passed to Red Bull. What happened?
Charles Leclerc: There is no doubt that we have improved the car, but for some reason Red Bull has taken a particularly big step forward after the summer break. This was noticeable in the example of Max, less so in the example of Sergio. In the second part of the season they were very fast, especially in the races.

Q: Numerous posts prove that Ferrari had speed, but after the Spa your car’s tire wear increased. What is it connected to?
Charles Leclerc: The driver has to attack harder and load the car if he thinks the speed is not enough. And this leads to increased tire wear. Compared to Red Bull, we didn’t have the expected pace and trying to correct the situation led to higher tire wear. At the start of the season, our car was the best, which allowed us to choose more appropriate strategies for the race.

Q: Red Bull was very fast on the straights. Has it forced you to make unwanted compromises in machine settings?
Charles Leclerc: They are really fast on the straights, but at the beginning of the season we were able to catch up thanks to the higher speed in the corners. Then Red Bull added to the corners and was faster than us overall.

I don’t think our main problem was tire wear. We weren’t good enough to have a perfect race, for example in terms of strategy. Sometimes we found ourselves in a sub-optimal situation, forcing us to ride a longer segment on one set. That’s how it goes.

The team needs to work on their race performance. If we evaluate the season as a whole, we had enough power to fight for the title, but we didn’t succeed.

Q: If we compare cornering speed, which one is better Ferrari and which Red Bull?
Charles Leclerc: I think we had an advantage in medium speed and fast corners. In the slow during the season the advantage was with us or with Red Bull, but on the straights they are faster.

Q: The build-up on the straights didn’t really affect the speed of the Ferrari, but it seemed that in Belgium, after the implementation of the technical guideline, your team lost more than the others…
Charles LeclercA: We don’t think so. Yes, these events coincided in time, but we think it was Red Bull that brought several new products to the spa that allowed them to get faster. Especially compared to other teams. It’s not that we slowed down. The fact is that Red Bull has become faster.

Q: This season, your partner is one step ahead of Carlos Sainz. What is it connected to?
Charles Leclerc: I changed my approach to work and discipline at home. When I came home in 2021, I did a thousand things. This led to me feeling tired in the second half of the season. Fatigue affected my performance.

Besides, maybe the 2022 car will suit me better. We’ve had a great winter test, trying a lot and paying a lot of attention to how I can fly. It helped to start the season on a high note and I was able to focus on the little things.

Question: You always openly admit your mistakes. What is it connected to?
Charles Leclerc: This is how I work and I always admit mistakes when I make them. It is wrong to hide your mistakes, because in this case you will not learn from them. Once I make a mistake, I have faith that it will make me stronger.

Q: Some riders say admitting mistakes is seen as a weakness. Do you not agree?
Charles Leclerc: The error can be unique. I have always admitted my mistakes – for me this is normal and I don’t consider this a bad thing. If the team makes a mistake, I tell them too. We are honest with each other. This approach has helped us grow together, so I don’t want to change it.

Q: So the team is also self-critical?
Charles Leclerc: Yes, we are self-critical. I am very critical of the team, although I am not one of those who will berate the team in public. However, in internal meetings I talk about everything – my job is to move the team forward. If I make mistakes, I correct them, if the team – we have to fix them. I think we should say such things.

Q: The team is sometimes criticized too harshly. Is it because a Ferrari is a Ferrari?
Charles Leclerc: I don’t know, but I don’t care. We shouldn’t care what other people think. Our job is to find a way to add. It is clear that we have to learn to realize the full potential in the race. Criticism is more present in the press than in real life, but I don’t care.

Q: In 2022, the team has made clear progress compared to the previous two seasons. Do you consider the last season successful or are you angry that you were not able to win the title?
Charles Leclerc: For me, the year has become something between these two opposites. Looking at the big picture, we’ve taken a big step forward by doing a great job behind the scenes. I don’t think many believed that we are capable of fighting for victory.

On the other hand, I am disappointed because we could have won more races. Again, we are focused on getting better. Next season our car should not be worse than this year, so that the team can fight for the title until the end.

Q: How hard is it to be patient and keep believing in the team?
Charles Leclerc: Believe in the team? I’ve never had a problem with this. It was hard to predict that we would struggle again in 2022, but I was sure. I saw how much effort was put into the car and that gave me hope that we will take the next step.

Q: What about patience?
Charles LeclercA: This is more difficult because I am impatient. My life is racing and winning in them. I get motivation from victories. I tasted victory in 2019, but the next two years were difficult and apparently misled me. I tried to change the situation, but no racer will be able to regain a whole second because of his skill – this is simply unrealistic.

Those two seasons helped me grow as a rider and become more patient. But I hope I don’t have to be patient for so long in my career.

Question: Your duels with Max Verstappen took place purely in 2022. Is it because you are riders of the same generation?
Charles Leclerc: We know each other well, but I don’t think that’s why the fight between us has loosened up. I think the difference between my fight with Max and Max’s fight with Lewis Hamilton last year is due to the fact that the duels took place at different stages of the season.

My fight with Max took place at the beginning of the year when I had a big lead in the championship, and Max was already way ahead. If there is such a difference, you run less risk. If Max and I fight for the title in 2023 until the end of the season, I think the confrontation on track will escalate.

Question: What will be the most important success factor in 2023?
Charles Leclerc: We need to get better, eliminate weaknesses. The team has different ideas about this.

Q: If you could fix one weak spot, what would it be?
Charles Leclerc: We need to find a way to be as fast on the straights as Red Bull.

Q: Do you expect Mercedes to return to contention?
Charles LeclercA: I count on them. This season it was always unclear what to expect from them – we didn’t know if they were going to be fast or slow on a given track, especially in qualifying. I’m pretty sure Mercedes will keep all the good stuff in their car and make it faster.