Charles Leclerc looks at learning from F1 2022 into 2023, as Max Verstappen has another chance to seal the title.
With five Grands Prix to go, it’s odds on that Verstappen and Red Bull will be World Champions for the second year in a row. If it does not happen in Suzuka, it most likely happen in Austin. It seems a long time now since the opening three Grands Prix of the season where Ferrari and especially Leclerc had hit the ground sprinting.
As it stands, it’s not over yet and Verstappen is expected to take the title sooner rather than later and for Leclerc, really he has nothing to lose and can just go for it. But surely the Monegasque has some regrets. It was not theirs to lose after the first few races but they did have their run of bad luck at times and strategy and decision-making at the top was called into play.
“As I’ve said, before Singapore, I think we need to use these last races… as you said, I think realistically Max is going to be a champion, if it’s not this weekend it’s going to be very, very soon,” said Leclerc. “But we need to focus on ourselves and not what we lacked this year”.
“If we look from the first race to now, we’ve always been strong and the performance was always good enough to actually fight for wins apart from some offs, but there aren’t many. I think it’s mostly about trying to put everything together coming the Sunday: strategy, tyre management and yeah, that’s where we are focusing on at the moment”.
“And this is the step that we’ll have to do next year in order to fight for the championship,” summed up Leclerc. He realises that 2022’s fight is all but over but already thinking of 2023. For his rival and the current WDC, should it happen at Suzuka, as it has a dozen times in the past, it would be especially poignant from a Honda viewpoint.
“It would make it a little bit, you know, extra special because of our relationship with Honda,” said Verstappen if he takes the title. “I think it was already a shame that we couldn’t be here last year in a title fight. So that’s why we’re really looking forward to being back here. And then we’ll see what happens. We need a perfect weekend, that’s for sure”.
“It would be very nice if it happens here but if it doesn’t happen here, I will be even more in favour the next race. So it doesn’t really change anything, you just want to have a good weekend and try to maximise everything you can. And of course, I need a perfect weekend to be able to clinch the title here. But to be honest, I’m not really thinking about it too much,” summed up Verstappen.
He might not be thinking about it too much but psychologically it must be at the back of the Dutchman’s mind. However, as per the top, right now, Leclerc has absolutely nothing to lose and can go for it. Verstappen is perhaps looking over his shoulder but in reality not for that much longer it would seem.
Title permutations for Verstappen:
| Verstappen | Leclerc | Perez |
|---|---|---|
| 1st with FL bonus point | Position irrelevant | Position irrelevant |
| 1st | 3rd or lower | Position irrelevant |
| 2nd | 5th or lower without bonus point | 4th or lower without bonus point |
| 2nd with bonus point | 5th or lower | 4th or lower |
| 3rd | 7th or lower | 6th or lower |
| 3rd with bonus point | 6th or lower | 5th or lower |
| 4th | 8th or lower without bonus point | 7th or lower without bonus point |
| 4th with bonus point | 8th or lower | 7th or lower |
| 5th | 9th without bonus point or lower | 8th or lower without bonus point |
| 5th with bonus point | 9th or lower | 8th or lower |
| 6th | Out of the points | 9th or lower without bonus point |
| 6th with bonus point | 10th or lower | 9th or lower |
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