Charles Leclerc showcases truly relentless focus and a renewed approach, seizing every impressive chance to secure his strongest Formula 1 season yet.
Charles Leclerc believes that resisting the urge to attempt things “that weren’t possible” pushed him to maximize his opportunities in 2024, more so than in previous Formula 1 seasons.
Leclerc’s seventh F1 campaign was his most productive to date, with three victories and 13 podiums that earned him 356 points, the highest tally of his career, finishing third in the championship.
The Monegasque remained consistently at the forefront, recording 21 top-five finishes—a figure even reigning champion Max Verstappen could not match.
However, Leclerc’s feats went unrewarded, as Ferrari’s mid-season slump left the team 14 points short of claiming the constructors’ title.
“Looking back, I think the season was very solid from the whole team.”
“I think there was the car’s performance, but we weren’t yet at the level we wanted to be, especially during the first half of the season. In the second half, we were more in line with McLaren and Red Bull.”
“As a driver, I feel that, looking back on this year, there really weren’t any missed opportunities.”
“In other years, when I looked back, there were always one or two races where there was an overtake of… I wanted to do things that weren’t possible.”
“And that’s what hurt me. It means I wouldn’t have scored points on those weekends, whereas I could have had 10 or 8.”
“Even if that’s not much, in the end, when you add those things up, it makes a difference.”
“Over a season like this, I don’t think I let the slightest opportunity slip away. That’s why I’m satisfied with the season.”
Leclerc was also applauded at the end of the season for his race conduct, notably in tough but fair battles, such as those against Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri in Qatar.
“I always love wheel-to-wheel racing. It’s always a very exciting part of the weekend, where you have to adapt to different drivers.”
“And, of course, you learn to know the drivers and also adjust your driving style accordingly.”
“When the stakes are high, that’s when you can also take more risks. And that’s what I love the most.”
“For example, with Oscar in Qatar, there was obviously a bit more risk taken. Simply because I knew it was very important for us to score as many points as possible against McLaren.”
“There’s also that part of the story where, at the start of the year, we might have taken fewer risks. But at the end of the year, when you’re fighting with a clear objective, you can afford to be a bit more aggressive, which I appreciate.”
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Monegasque Ace Embraces Every Chance to Prove Potential Monegasque Ace Embraces Every Chance to Prove Potential
