Charles Leclerc prepared to alter his strategy in 2025

January 9, 2025

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For too a few years, Ferrari has watched others triumph in System 1, like a fallen noble observing from afar the lights of a ball to which it’s now not invited. A undeniable fact that hurts a couple of may assume. The 2024 System 1 season noticed the Prancing Horse return to competition for a title. The constructors’ championship was fought till the ultimate race in Abu Dhabi, although the trophy now adorns the show case in Woking. Regardless of; there’s at all times subsequent time. Dwelling on the topic serves no function anymore. Charles Leclerc suffered enormously from this defeat because the Monegasque driver believed in it like by no means earlier than.

Simply recall his response on the ultimate crew radio after crossing the end line of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in third place. The results of a shocking comeback, which, as we all know, was not sufficient as a result of Lando Norris’s victory. The Monegasque pounded his fists on the steering wheel all through the in-lap. His voice was choked with the despair of somebody who refused to just accept a bitter consequence. Enduring defeat is a part of the sport. True. However when the winner is somebody you might have crushed, swallowing one more bitter capsule isn’t really easy.

In 2025, Charles Leclerc will face his seventh System 1 season. He has achieved quite a few pole positions, 26, to be precise. The victories, nevertheless, are “solely” eight, contemplating that he has at all times pushed a automobile incapable of constantly preventing for wins all through the championship. Marrying Ferrari’s trigger was by no means easy, and he knew this nicely when he signed the contract and its subsequent renewals. His want to win alongside the Maranello crew stays intact, and the objective for the upcoming season is evident: to complete forward of everybody and turn out to be world champion with the Prancing Horse.

Charles Leclerc may have Lewis Hamilton by his facet beginning with the 2025 System 1 season. A lot has been mentioned concerning the hypothetical relationship between the 2. Ferrari crew principal Frederic Vasseur believes he can handle the well-known “two roosters within the henhouse,” simply as he did with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Nonetheless, the state of affairs is barely totally different. No offense to Carlos Sainz, however the Briton is in a league of his personal. We’re speaking a couple of seven-time System 1 world champion who has not come to calm down however to win, or not less than that’s his objective. It should subsequently be fascinating to see how this relationship is managed.

Particularly if Undertaking 677, anticipated to be named SF-25, seems to be a automobile able to acting at its greatest and giving Ferrari’s drivers the prospect to combat for each System 1 world titles. Charles Leclerc is pure expertise, similar to Lewis Hamilton. And that is exactly the issue that would create issues. Each need to win and can do no matter it takes to remain forward of the opposite always. Usually, reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s stellar profession, one truth stands out: his constantly honest conduct, in distinction to different champions.

Sure, as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct or driving past the boundaries has by no means been a part of his repertoire. This can be a trait price emphasizing. On this respect, Max Verstappen is solely totally different. Assume again to 2021 when, in his battle with Lewis Hamilton, he adopted an aggressive strategy as soon as he took the lead within the drivers’ standings, with maneuvers geared toward contact. Charles Leclerc, too, has skilled this strategy and has not too long ago mirrored on the topic, contemplating a hypothetical future the place he may discover himself contending for a championship.

Racing by Max Verstappen’s guidelines isn’t precisely Charles Leclerc’s type. Nonetheless, he declares himself able to adapt strategically. One thing akin to what Max Verstappen did with Lando Norris when the Briton was preventing for the drivers’ championship. Charles Leclerc’s mentality is prepared for a change as a result of, whereas equity should prevail, there are occasions when aggressiveness and a success-driven strategy could make the distinction. The Monegasque driver is hard. He is aware of the way to combat fiercely and may’t wait to take action with anybody, supplied Ferrari provides him the prospect.