Charles Leclerc has said he can see Ferrari improving their strategy and communication across the final races of the 2022 season, and re-iterated his main focus is on improving for 2023 rather than beating Sergio Perez in this year’s drivers’ championship.
Leclerc conceded the championship at the Japanese Grand Prix and though second-place is up for grabs, he previously said he wanted to focus on improving himself and Ferrari for a renewed title charge in 2023.
“I think we are improving in strategy and communication,” Leclerc told the press. “In terms of time management, there’s still quite a bit of work to do.
“But I do believe that there are some signs that we are going in the right direction, but now we just need to put them all together in order to show it.”
Ferrari’s season has been derailed by bad strategy calls, Leclerc was double-stacked which led to him losing the lead and eventually Sergio Perez winning the race.
At Silverstone, Ferrari inexplicably refused to prioritise their title challenger when Verstappen started from the back of the grid, meaning he only took six points on the Dutchman.
And in Hungary, Ferrari put Leclerc on the useless hard tyres, helping Verstappen get back-to-back wins on the start of his consecutive run of five wins that won him the title.
Second is second best
Leclerc is still able to take second place in the championship as he sits five points behind Sergio Perez.
However, he’s said while it’d be nicer than finishing third, he’s not focusing on it over the last two races.
“Again, it isn’t my main priority,” Leclerc said. “I think it will come as a result if we do everything perfect in the last two races, but my main priority is to try again and improve as a team in the last few races for us to challenge Max and Redbull next year.
“That’s mostly what matters to me, to try and win a championship as quickly as possible. Second, or third, this season second is better than them. But yeah, I don’t really mind to be honest.”
