Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes that in his pursuit of a world title, Charles Leclerc will encounter additional pressures that his opponents would not experience.
Because of the Scuderia’s legacy in Formula One, driving for the Scuderia comes with added responsibilities, according to Herbert. Ferrari has not won a championship in 14 years, and following their performance in 2022, Charles Leclerc’s expectations will be higher than ever.
“The Tifosi, the Italian media, and Ferrari themselves are all putting pressure on Charles Leclerc. Being a Ferrari driver adds pressure that I don’t believe Max or Lewis have “, Total-Motorsport.com was informed by Johnny Herbert.
He went on to say that the structure above Hamilton and Verstappen in their teams assists Charles Leclerc in performing consistently.
“Toto [Wolff] and Mercedes, Christian [Horner] and Red Bull strive to relieve some of the burdens on their drivers so they can breathe more comfortably. I believe that’s where they’ve been able to perform more consistently this season”, Johnny Herbert went on to say.
Mercedes failed to adjust to the new regulations in the 2022 season, but Ferrari developed well enough to win races. This put Charles Leclerc in a two-horse contest for the championship with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. However, things did not go as planned for the 25-year-old.
Though Charles Leclerc’s team opened the season with a 1-2 finish and the quickest lap, things began to worsen gradually. Reliability concerns in Spain and Baku cost them points, which were subsequently compounded by strategy blunders and driving faults.
In 2023, Charles Leclerc will face even stronger competition for the crown
After Ferrari showed in 2022 that they can fight at the top of the grid, Charles Leclerc will face increased pressure in the next season. There will also be more competition as the Silver Arrows attempt to rebound from a poor season.
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Mercedes has high hopes for the W14, and Lewis Hamilton should be able to compete for his ninth world title. Verstappen, on the other hand, will be the man to beat in the 2023 season after winning consecutive titles.
At the same time, Ferrari appears to be in terrific shape for the 2019 season. They are expected to avoid the mistakes they made last season under Fred Vasseur’s guidance.
Charles Leclerc is aware, though, that the two-time world champion is not the only one putting a lot of pressure on the squad. Hamilton, according to Herbert, is also quite clear about what he expects. As a result, Herbert believes the trio has an excellent chance of fighting for victories in 2023.
