With the amount of talent Charles Leclerc possesses, non-F1 fans would be left scratching their heads as to why the Monegasque isn’t a World Champion yet. However, in the cruel and cutthroat world of Formula 1, talent can get you only so far.

Everyone who follow33s this sport, including Leclerc, is aware of this. The 2023 F1 season is right over the horizon.

However, according to one British racing ace, there stands just one impediment between Charles Leclerc and that elusive World Title with the Scuderia. And, it’s not Max Verstappen!

Sam Bird, who races for Jaguar TCS Racing in Formula E, believes that Leclerc’s championship chances in 2023 are pretty solid. That being said, according to Bird, it isn’t Max Verstappen that the Monegasque should be worried about, though.

Bird told BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, “I mean, he’s one of the best drivers on the grid. He would dearly love for Ferrari to come out the traps next year with a car that can fight Max Verstappen, because Charles Leclerc will fancy himself against Max Verstappen.”

“He will be going into the winter thinking, ‘I didn’t have the car, they didn’t give me the car, and if they give me the car, I’ll fight this guy, and we’ll go head to head.”

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While Bird is worried about Ferrari’s capabilities, Leclerc fears a more potent outside threat.

Charles Leclerc wary of 2023 Mercedes threat

You’d think with Max Verstappen hot on his tail, Charles Leclerc would already have had enough on his plate. That being said, Leclerc believes that more than Verstappen & Co., he has another very real threat he’s going to have to tackle before he can materialize that maiden F1 title.

At the FIA’s Prize Giving Ceremony, he said, “I do believe that Mercedes will be in the fight. We’ve seen how much they’ve improved from the first race to the last race. I think they understood what they did wrong. This is normally the sign that it will go better. So hopefully it will be a three team fight next year.”

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Can Charles Leclerc stave off Mercedes and Red Bull to win with Ferrari?