Every Formula 1 team wants a driver that they can depend on. A driver that they can build the team around. Like Lewis Hamilton has been for Mercedes. Like Max Verstappen has been for Red Bull. Ferrari found their man in 2019, offering Charles Leclerc a 5-year extension after just a single season with the team. And the recent contract extension, possibly till the end of 2029 (yet another 5-year deal) proves that the Scuderia has put all its faith in Leclerc as their future world champion. Everything must have been going like a dream for the Monagasque until he knew he was going to be teammates with Hamilton in 2025. Suddenly, Charles Leclerc doesn’t look like Ferrari’s number 1 driver anymore.

How can you be a team’s number 1 driver when there is a 7-time world champion on the other side of the garage? Hamilton has never played second fiddle to anyone. Even back in his rookie year in 2007, when he went up against freshly crowned double world champion, Fernando Alonso, he was not a number 2 driver. However, Leclerc doesn’t seem to be fazed by the prospect of teaming up with Hamilton.

Charles Leclerc is hungry for success in Formula 1 after a winless season

There’s little doubt that Charles Leclerc is one of the fastest drivers on the grid, especially on a single-lap pace. You don’t manage to sneak out 23 pole positions when the likes of Verstappen and Hamilton are dominating at their best. However, his tally of just 5 race wins suggests that things haven’t gone well for him come the race day on a Sunday. And Leclerc can’t wait to get back to winning ways.

According to a recent report from Auto Motor Sport, Leclerc has set his targets on getting more race wins in 2024. “I wouldn’t be satisfied with two or three wins. After a season without a win, I’m hungry for success. I want to be at the top of the podium again,“ the Monagasque said.

Frederik Vasseur also helped reassure the Monagasque by saying, “If you can win a few races, you automatically have a chance of the title.“ He also mentioned that despite the impending arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2025, the team needs to focus on the task at hand. “We need to focus on 2024 and be distracted as little as possible by what happens in 2025,” Vasseur added.

READ MORE: F1 News: Charles Leclerc Gives Delightful Update on SF24 After Ferrari’s 1st Test at Fiorano

While Leclerc is eyeing race wins in 2024, his team boss takes a more pragmatic approach, suggesting that he doesn’t want to jump to conclusions about the SF24 too soon.

2024 is an important year for Ferrari says team boss Fred Vasseur

Late last season, something clicked for Ferrari when they brought the underbody upgrades at the Japanese Grand Prix. Suddenly the car was much faster and had better driving characteristics according to Leclerc. And the SF24 looks to be a step forward in that direction as Leclerc found out in a recent test drive at Fiorano. However, team principal Fred Vasseur remains cautious of jumping to conclusions too early.

“We’ve made progress compared to ourselves, but that’s worth nothing if everyone else’s steps are even bigger. If you’re two seconds faster and the others are three, you’re the idiot. If they’re just one second faster, you’re the hero,” said Vasseur. “2024 is an important year for us. We want to win races and prove to ourselves that the path we took in the middle of last year is the right one,“ he added.

Watch This Story | F1 veteran shocked as Charles Leclerc’s bratty behavior is overlooked by Ferrari in surprising decision

Will the SF24 allow Leclerc and Sainz to take the fight to Red Bull and contend for race wins? Share your predictions down below in the comments.