Charles Leclerc Wants ONLY One Thing From Ferrari in 2023 and Being No. 1 Driver Isn’t It

Charles Leclerc is arguably the poster boy of Ferrari’s Formula 1 ambitions. It’s no secret that the Monegasque was signed in 2019 with the sole objective of building the team around him so that he could challenge for F1 glory. That being said, for Leclerc, being No. 1 on the team is not his primary objective.

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In Formula 1, there’s always been a No. 1 and a no. 2 drivers. Contracts are negotiated around this. However, Charles Leclerc doesn’t concern himself with such technicalities. Apparently, all he expects is for the team to protect his championship bid when it really matters.

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According to Motorsport.com Italy, “The message of a Charles banging his fists on the table requiring first guide degrees is false, asking to be protected and not damaged as in some cases happened in 2022 is something else, there is a huge difference. ” [translated via Google Translate]

Rather, Leclerc “would like efforts to be channeled in one direction at a certain point in the season, avoiding missed opportunities this year.”

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If this is anything to go by, then Leclerc only demands support from within the team. However, Ferrari’s recent Binotto saga didn’t help the Monegasque’s cause at all, as he admits.

Ferrari rumors made life very difficult for Charles Leclerc

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When you’re a Ferrari driver, the stakes are already very high. That being said, you’d expect the team to lend you a helping hand and allow you to conduct your business on the track without any added external pressure. But for Charles Leclerc, this wasn’t to be.

Formula One F1. Bahrain Grand Prix. Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. March 20, 2022. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc celebrates with Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto after winning the race. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed.

Talking about the rumors of Binotto being sacked before the Abu Dhabi season ender, he told RacingNews365.com, “Coming into this weekend, it was very, very difficult. We had a lot of outside pressures, a lot of rumors around the team and it’s always very difficult to extract all of these things and focus on the job.”

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Charles Leclerc is a man in demand currently. But will Ferrari be able to manage its gremlins and help him secure his maiden F1 title in 2023? Or will he have to look elsewhere for silverware?