“Hopefully next year we’ll win”: Charles Leclerc aspires to beat his chief rival for ultimate prize in 2023

Tanish Chachra | 24/10/2022
"Hopefully next year we'll win": Charles Leclerc aspires to beat his chief rival for ultimate prize in 2023

After finishing P3 in the United States Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc declared his candidacy for the following year’s championship.

Apart from the first few races this season, the entire championship was in the name of Max Verstappen. With 13 wins this season so far, the Dutchman has confirmed his second successive title win.

Charles Leclerc, who was the most sizeable challenge to Verstappen for the title, couldn’t sustain his challenge against the Red Bull star. Verstappen sealed the 2022 championship in his name with over four races remaining.

Leclerc initially gave an incredible challenge. But Ferrari’s reliability concerns and some questionable strategies didn’t work against the 33 Grand Prix winner.

Also read: Shaquille O’Neal recreates his iconic 2021 entry ahead of US Grand Prix 2022 podium celebration

Charles Leclerc ready to launch championship challenge 2.0

With this season’s title challenge officially wrapped up, the top three teams must focus on the 2023 season. And so is Leclerc, who, after the Us Grand Prix race, claimed that he hopes to win the title next year.

Leclerc is vying against Sergio Perez for the runner-up spot in this year’s final standings. After his P2 podium, Leclerc is only two points ahead of the 33-year-old.

The next race in the season is in Mexico, where Perez would be determined to register his first win in front of his home crowd. If he succeeds, Leclerc’s problems in cementing the P2 spot in the standings’ will complicate.

Carlos Sainz snubbed a good race by George Russell

Carlos Sainz had a good start to the Grand Prix weekend, and his race seemed promising with the pole position on Saturday. However, at the first turn, he was tagged by Mercedes star George Russell, which led to the Spaniard spinning on the track.

Immediately after that, Sainz retired from the race, spoiling his prospects of bringing in a good amount of points on the table for himself. At that moment, it was known that Red Bull was also taking away their constructors’ titles this Sunday.

Though, Russell, after the race, realized his mistake and apologized to Sainz for his deeds. He also received a five-second penalty, but it hardly affected his P5 result from today.

Also read: FIA and Red Bull have reportedly agreed penalty for $145 Million Budget cap breach

Post Edited By: Tanish Chachra
Charles Leclerc ferrari Max Verstappen Red Bull

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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