Charles Leclerc is setting a high bar for Ferrari this season but claims that if the Italian outfit can win at least five races and perform consistently, it can secure the world title.
Ferrari has gone all-in for this year's campaign, its engineers sparing no effort in the past twelve months to design a car and a new engine capable of powering the House of Maranello to its first world championship as a constructor since 2008.
To fulfil its ambitions, the Scuderia has packed its new-spec F1-75 with innovations, the efficiency of which were put to the test with good effect in Barcelona last week, during F1's first leg of pre-season testing.
Overall, Ferrari's drivers racked up 439 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya, more than any other team.
"Our world championship ambitions are clear," stated Leclerc, talking to France's Canal Sports Club
"The last two years were complicated for the team. For Ferrari, there are always high expectations. Everyone always expects Ferrari to fight for the top positions.
"After the last two years, it was difficult. But I think we reacted well. We prepared well for this year's car change."
Asked how many wins he hopes to achieve this season, Leclerc jokingly replied "23!" before he answered the question more seriously, insisting than consistency would be key.
"No seriously, 5 would be already great. If we are consistent, we can be world champion with 5 wins!"
F1 teams will resume their pre-season preparations in Bahrain next week, and Leclerc views the final three days of testing at Sakhir as paramount for Ferrari.
"Those test days in Bahrain will be very important as we prepare for the first race," said the Monegasque.
"We remain cautious because we don’t know where we stand, but we are very motivated and we want to fight at the front."
©Ferrari
Last year, Leclerc finished P7 in the Drivers' standings, two positions and 5.5 points behind his teammate Carlos Sainz who undertook his first season with Ferrari.
While Leclerc and Sainz ar working together towards the common goal of putting Ferrari in the winner's circle, the Monegasque says that on a personal level, he aims to finish ahead of his teammate this year.
"We get on very well together," he said. "But we are competitors. In the end your team-mate is the only one who has the same car and I want to beat him.
"But of course we have to find a good balance for the team."
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