Leclerc: There is no “Charles 2.0”
With his excellent results at the beginning of the season, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has attracted attention. Some even go as far as considering him a new version of himself, which the Monegasque refutes.
Charles Leclerc starts the 2022 season with a win and a second place in two races, putting Ferrari back in the spotlight. However, the Monegasque doesn’t believe that these results are due to a major development since 2021, but rather to a finally competitive car.
I don’t like one thing that I’ve seen everywhere and don’t like to see, and that’s Charles 2.0, the driver revealed on Friday in Melbourne. That’s not the case. Yes, I’ve had a linear evolution over the years. I’ve never relied on luck for results. But honestly, there were two specific races last year where I lost a lot of points and it wasn’t in my control. And it cost me dearly at the end of the year.
« Moreover, fighting between seventh and fourth position, no matter if you deliver a great performance, no one notices it, it’s quite misleading,” he continued. » “So, of course, I am probably better now that I am fighting for victories, because that’s what I love. It feels good to be back. But above all, I think it’s just a linear evolution from one year to another and there is not a big difference compared to last year,” revealed the Monegasque.
Pressure as a motivation
“It’s a good situation, I find,” explained Charles Leclerc. “Having more pressure means that you’re doing things right, that you’re in the right place. I’ve never really had problems with pressure, my mindset allows me to focus on myself, on the work I have to do with the car, without thinking too much about the results and everything around it. Obviously, the past few years have been difficult, and being back at the top level is very motivating for the team and myself, so yes, it’s good to be here.”
During the first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Leclerc surpassed his teammate Carlos Sainz. However, the Monegasque driver still expects more performance from the F1-75 and believes that it’s only a matter of time before seeing the Spaniard comfortable with the Ferrari.
