Leclerc's unyielding resolve: 'I want it to be in red'

Despite Ferrari's disappointing start to its 2023 campaign, Charles Leclerc's unwavering determination to win the world title with the Scuderia remains intact.

Fueled by a burning desire to etch his name in the annals of motorsport history, Leclerc embodies the hopes and aspirations of an entire Ferrari fan base eagerly awaiting a return to championship prominence.

But disappointment continues to lingers heavily in the Tifosi's hearts as Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz find themselves grappling with a car this season that is no match on race day for Red Bull's dominant RB19.

However, each setback is fueling Leclerc's determination to push himself and his team to overcome the obstacles hindering their pursuit of Formula 1 grandeur.

Clearly, the Monegasque has no intention of giving up on his dream of restoring the glory of Maranello, a feat that has eluded the team since Kimi Räikkönen's successful run to the title in 2007.

"I want to win, and I want it to be in red," Leclerc said in an interview with The Athletic.

"This is clear, and I am not happy about the performance we’ve been giving in the last few years, it’s not been so consistent.

"There was quite a lot of expectation for this year, and at the end, we are seeing that we’re not as competitive as what we want.

"But looking back at it, trying to analyse it with [team boss Frederic Vasseur], with the team, we understood a few things.

"I have a bit more of a clearer picture of why we are where we are now."

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Ferrari's chances of success have also at times been compromised by Leclerc's eagerness to push the boundaries which has led to costly errors, as was the case most recently in Miami.

However, Leclerc remains acutely aware of his own fallibility, using these setbacks as fuel for growth and self-improvement.

With a steely resolve, he aims to learn from these errors and ensure they become steppingstones rather than stumbling blocks in his quest to reclaim Ferrari's former greatness.

The immense prestige and intense scrutiny surrounding the Scuderia and its drivers brings a wave of massive pressure.

But Leclerc points to the past and to Ferrari's golden Todt/Schumacher period as a case study of sorts of how the team remained impervious to pressure.

"It was like this when Michael and Jean were there too, and they managed to cope with it brilliantly, so we cannot complain, and it cannot be an excuse," he explained.

Indeed, Leclerc's unyielding focus and mental fortitude allow him to stay grounded and mostly unaffected by external expectations.

"That is also a part of why Ferrari is so special," he added. "There is the passion to it that I don’t think any other team has.

"It is more difficult to manage the difficult situations, because you’ve got more emotions to it.

"But at the end, it’s Ferrari. I wouldn’t change it."

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