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Charles Leclerc Hopes to Bring Back Ferrari’s F1 Championship Days – “2022 Is a Huge Opportunity”

Published 02/18/2022, 6:30 AM EST

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via Reuters

Scuderia Ferrari have finally unveiled their 2022 challenger F1-75 yesterday in the presence of driver duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The Maranello team made a major turnaround in 2021 after a disastrous 2020 F1 campaign. Now, as the sport enters a new era with a major overhaul in the regulations, many insiders are betting their bucks on the Red Team.

Among those who believe Ferrari will perform admirably in 2022 include close rivals like Red Bull boss Christian Horner and 2021 challenger Lando Norris. In 2020, they were battling a weaker engine and a draggy car. However, in a welcome development, Ferrari are believed to have overcome the 20 bhp deficit in their latest car. One reservation still lies about the innovative solutions to the aero aspects of F1-75.

via Reuters

Essentially speaking, FIA regulations have simplified the front wing aerodynamics in order to tackle the bad air. Now, as things look sorted on the Powertrain front, there’s nothing stopping the team from climbing back to the top. Notably, Ferrari haven’t won a championship since 2007. Though Sebastian Vettel came close to winning it for Ferrari in 2017 and 2018, Lewis Hamilton had the last laugh on both occasions.

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Now, they are all set to enter the 2022 season with in-form Carlos Sainz who finished “best of the rest” in 2022, and relentless Monegasque Charles Leclerc. Though last season was a tough one for Leclerc, the young Ferrari star hopes to make a turnaround this season.

Charles Leclerc: Looking to tap into his potential

Leclerc burst onto the scene as one of the best drivers of this generation. Ferrari gave him a multi-year contract at a very tender age, something this sport hasn’t seen very often. Many found a future world champion in him. However, after initial success, Leclerc’s charisma seemed to fade away a little in 2021. Fans are well aware of his caliber as a driver and he is adamant about making a turnaround this season. Not just an improved version of himself, Leclerc wants to win a title for Ferrari this season itself.

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More recently, Leclerc opened up about his thoughts on the new car while talking to the media during the car launch. “I dream of becoming world champion [this year]. Realistically we know where we are coming from. 2020 had been really complicated, 2021 was a bit better 2022 is a huge opportunity,” said the Monegasque.

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“With the new rules, everyone starts from a blank page and I hope it’s gonna be an opportunity for us to go back to the front row but we need to prove that we’ve worked hard. So the main goal is to fight for wins!” added Leclerc.

via Reuters

Leclerc will take the wheel of the F1-75 in Barcelona next week for the pre-season testing for the first time. Naturally, he is excited to be back on the track and aims to gun for regular wins and podiums, as he said. The much-anticipated season will kick-start in Bahrain on the 20th of March with an extensive 23-race calendar to follow.

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Drop your bold Ferrari predictions in the comment section below. Where do you see Leclerc ending up at the end of 2022?

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Written by:

Rituraj Tripathi

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Rituraj Tripathi is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. A true lover of speed, he is big fan of Lewis Hamilton and finds a future world champion in Lando Norris. Rituraj eagerly looks forward to the paddock moving to the Circuit de Monaco, and he finds Portier corner as the most exciting part of the track.
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