Leclerc sets sights on 2024 after ‘disappointing season’

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Charles Leclerc has all but written off Ferrari’s 2023 season and is looking towards 2024 for another chance to fight for the title even if he knows that there’s still a big gap to fill to catch Red Bull.

Stepping into the 2023 season, Leclerc and Ferrari harbored lofty ambitions, aiming to challenge for the championship title that had eluded them the year before.

However, despite flashes of brilliance and impressive pace in qualifyinh, the Monegasque driver's campaign has been marred by a series of setbacks and the SF-23’s lack of consistency, leaving him trailing behind his rivals in the standings.

“To be honest it’s been a disappointing season,” rued Leclerc. “After last year, we expected to come into this season and try and fight for the championship.

“After the first race, we straight away understood how difficult it would be compared to the Red Bull which had a huge step forward, especially in race pace.

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“We didn’t do the same step, so from that moment onwards it was a bit of a disappointment. On the other hand, this season, if you forget about last season, I think we have progressed quite a lot this season which is positive and makes me confident for the future.

“But there’s a big gap to fill to get back [with] the Red Bulls so we will work out over the winter break and hopefully come back next year with a car that is capable of outperforming them.”

©Ferrari

Ferrari’s level of performance has undeniably improved in the back half of the season, a period marked by Carlos Sainz’s triumph in Singapore where the Spaniard inflicted to Red Bull its only defeat of the year, so far.

The Italian outfit’s progress has allowed it to reel in Mercedes in the Constructors’ championship. Only four points separate the two teams on the eve of the last race of the season.

But the tight gap still leaves Ferrari with a big challenge on its hands according to Leclerc.

“It’s going to be tight. We have good momentum coming into this race, the last few races have been positive for us however Mercedes is generally pretty good in Abu Dhabi,” he said.

“We will have to put everything together in order to fight them and beat them in the Constructrors’ Championship.

“Everybody is super motivated to beat Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship. Momentum is good, but the big work remains to be done on track and we’ll make sure that we do everything perfect this weekend in order to beat them.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.