Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has admitted that five victories in the 2022 F1 season could be enough to claim a maiden championship victory. The 24-year-old begins his third season with Scuderia, teaming up with Spaniard Carlos Sainz. The duo helped Ferrari get a third-place finish in the Constructors’ standings in 2021.
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After pre-season testing in Barcelona, Ferrari have been among the top teams in terms of mileage and performance in the new F1-75. Leclerc, in a recent interview, spoke about Ferrari’s hopes for 2022, saying, “The last two years have been complicated. Ferrari is always under great pressure.”
“But we react well as a team and we have also prepared well for the new rules. Achieving five wins would already be great. If we are consistent, we can become World Champions with five wins. Those test days in Bahrain will be very important as we prepare for the first race,” he added.
Leclerc is a two-time Grand Prix winning both races in 2019 with the ‘Prancing Horse’. However, the 2020 season was one of the most disappointing seasons in Ferrari’s history. In 2021, Leclerc was outperformed by Sainz, who had a splendid debut season with the team.
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The Monegasque has had his fair share of ups and downs since making his debut in 2018. However, the youngster will be boosted with the performance of the team’s car for the new season. With Sainz and Leclerc, the Italian team will be closer to reaching the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari.
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Carlos Sainz Jr. and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will begin their second season together REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Ferrari’s last race win came at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, followed by their worst season in 40 years in 2020. The team also chose to focus on the 2022 car, after the COVID-19 pandemic hampered their progress.
This season will be vital for Ferrari as they aim to return to past glory in 2022. With the young pairing, Team Principal Mattia Binotto will surely be optimistic about a bright upcoming season with the F1-75. The team also brought in a new hybrid system at the tail end of 2021, which was initially set to be introduced in 2022.
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Will Leclerc produce his best season with Ferrari in 2022 and challenge the likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton?
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