Leclerc considers the Top 3 among the Manufacturers for Ferrari “realistic”

Invigorated by a studious winter near Maranello (Italy) and an encouraging first weekend in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari has the weapons to reach the podium in the Manufacturers' ranking in 2021. 

After finishing 6th in the championship in 2020, its worst position since 1980, the Scuderia placed its two drivers in the points at Sakhir with Leclerc in 6th position, two rows ahead of his new teammate Carlos Sainz. 

This double arrival in the Top 8 allows Ferrari to currently occupy 4th place overall, within shooting range of McLaren (6 points), who seems to have a head start in the middle of the grid at the start of the season. 

« I think the realistic goal this season for us is to finish behind Red Bull et Mercedes, which will be very hard to find, said Leclerc at the FIA ​​press conference in Imola. 

We are too far behind them, but in a group with 4-5 other teams fighting for 3rd place in the Constructors' Championship. It will be very close and you will have to do everything perfectly to emerge victorious from this battle. ». 

In front of the few representatives of the French press present in Emilia-Romagna, Leclerc later clarified that the Imola weekend (April 16-18) will make it possible to obtain “ certain answers which will be important for the rest of the season, in particular our level of performance in the corners negotiated at medium and high speed. 

I would like to know more in this area because I had the impression that we had difficulty on this point in Bahrain. Here, we will find out ». 

If he hopes to be at the forefront of the announced duel between Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) this season, Leclerc above all wants to ensure that he does everything possible to join the fight at the forefront from 2022.

« I would prefer to be fighting for the first places with them, then I am in a project that interests me greatly, he confided, half-heartedly acknowledging that Ferrari had its sights turned almost exclusively towards the following season.

I drive for Ferrari which is unique in the world and I am very happy about it. I believe in the project and my only objective is to work to get them, I hope from next year. It's a bit of a shame that we can't fight with them yet but that doesn't mean I'm sad where I am ».