Charles Leclerc is not only looking at two-time world champion Max Verstappen in 2023, but also at another team that increasingly started to report at the front in 2022: Mercedes.
Leclerc started the 2022 season fantastically by winning two of the first three races. Because Verstappen retired during two of those three races, the Monegask had quickly built up a lead of 46 points. A big head start. However, this hole would disappear like snow in the sun in the following weeks. Leclerc eventually had to settle for P2, just ahead of Sergio Perez but well behind Verstappen.
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Competition
In conversation with Auto Motor and Sport says Leclerc about his expectations for 2023. “I think Mercedes will be in contention. I haven’t seen any signs yet that another team will rise to the top. But Mercedes will definitely be there next year with a very strong car. We’ve seen how much they improved from the first race to the last last year, I think they’ve understood what they did wrong, and that’s usually a sign that things are improving, so hopefully next year will be a three-team battle. ”
2023
2022 was not quite what Leclerc had hoped for, but towards 2023 the Monegask has a lot of confidence. “I’m confident because we work a lot in the simulator. We worked really hard last year to understand where the weaknesses of this car are so that we can improve for next year. I also think that after the 2021 season, where we worked really well and fought back after the difficult 2020 season, worked in the right direction and in the right way. This gives me confidence that we will have a competitive car for 2023.”
