FORMULA ONE: Leclerc leaves Austria feeling optimistic
July 4, 2023
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has expressed some optimism about his team’s prospects for the remainder of the season after finishing second in the Austrian Grand Prix.
Ferrari have affected some upgrades to their car over the last few races and Leclerc says the hard work that has been put in by the team is starting to show.
Speaking after the race, that saw Max Verstappen claim his seventh win in nine races, Leclerc said: “I am always motivated, especially after weekends like this when you finally see a bit more potential of fighting in the front. It feels good.
“It is going to be difficult to go and win this championship but there is still plenty to work on.
“I see how high the motivation is in the team and how hard they are pushing to bring upgrades earlier. This gives me the confidence and motivation to push whenever I am on track.
“I am already looking forward to Silverstone. It’s a very different track and the team has done an incredible job. We are all flat out to get back winning as soon as possible. Even though we are 150 points behind, a win would feel nice, and we are all working towards that target,” he said.
Despite the improvements to the car Leclerc was forced to admit that Verstappen was still miles ahead of him in terms of speed. Just shy of the race’s halfway mark the Monegasque driver found himself in the lead with Verstappen closing rapidly from behind. Such was the difference in pace that that Leclerc didn’t even try to defend his position when Verstappen caught and passed him at turn three.
“I knew it was a matter of time. Max had much fresher tyres. They are also quicker whenever we have the same tyres so it’s not like I tried to push like crazy.
“I knew it was crucial to lose as little time as possible in this battle. And this is why I haven’t been as aggressive as I have been other times when we have been fighting for real positions.
“This one was a bit different. If he hadn’t overtaken me (there), it was the lap after and I would have lost more time and it would not have benefited me in the race,” he said.
After his win in the Austrian Grand Prix Verstappen finds himself way out in front of the Driver’s Championship with 229 points. Leclerc is back in sixth place with 72 points.
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FORMULA ONE: Leclerc leaves Austria feeling optimistic
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has expressed some optimism about his team’s prospects for the remainder of the season after finishing second in the Austrian Grand Prix.
Ferrari have affected some upgrades to their car over the last few races and Leclerc says the hard work that has been put in by the team is starting to show.
Speaking after the race, that saw Max Verstappen claim his seventh win in nine races, Leclerc said: “I am always motivated, especially after weekends like this when you finally see a bit more potential of fighting in the front. It feels good.
“It is going to be difficult to go and win this championship but there is still plenty to work on.
“I see how high the motivation is in the team and how hard they are pushing to bring upgrades earlier. This gives me the confidence and motivation to push whenever I am on track.
“I am already looking forward to Silverstone. It’s a very different track and the team has done an incredible job. We are all flat out to get back winning as soon as possible. Even though we are 150 points behind, a win would feel nice, and we are all working towards that target,” he said.
Despite the improvements to the car Leclerc was forced to admit that Verstappen was still miles ahead of him in terms of speed. Just shy of the race’s halfway mark the Monegasque driver found himself in the lead with Verstappen closing rapidly from behind. Such was the difference in pace that that Leclerc didn’t even try to defend his position when Verstappen caught and passed him at turn three.
“I knew it was a matter of time. Max had much fresher tyres. They are also quicker whenever we have the same tyres so it’s not like I tried to push like crazy.
“I knew it was crucial to lose as little time as possible in this battle. And this is why I haven’t been as aggressive as I have been other times when we have been fighting for real positions.
“This one was a bit different. If he hadn’t overtaken me (there), it was the lap after and I would have lost more time and it would not have benefited me in the race,” he said.
After his win in the Austrian Grand Prix Verstappen finds himself way out in front of the Driver’s Championship with 229 points. Leclerc is back in sixth place with 72 points.