Charles Leclerc praised Ferrari’s ‘smooth’ car as their new model was unveiled ahead of pre-season testing this month… with the Italian giants bidding to end their 16-year wait for a F1 championship
- Ferrari unveiled their new car at their base in Maranello on Tuesday morning
- Ferrari are looking to win their first F1 championship since the 2007 season
- Charles Leclerc is optimistic that this is possible following the car’s launch
Ferrari unveiled their new car at their Maranello base ahead of their bid to overhaul Red Bull at the top of the F1 standings in 2023.
The Italian giants started last season brightly, but slumped in the second half of the campaign as Max Verstappen cruised to his second world title.
They are determined to improve on Red Bull this year, however, and Charles Leclerc delivered a positive verdict on the new model on Tuesday at the launch event.
‘Feels good. The first few km felt smooth. I have already given feedback to the engineers. The car was running well, everything went really well,’ Leclerc told reporters after his first few laps in the SF-23.
‘It’s very special to feel support like this. That’s why Ferrari is so special. I hope this season will be an amazing one, it feels great!
Formula One giants Ferrari have unveiled their new car ahead of the 2023 F1 season
Carlos Sainz (left), Fred Vasseur (centre) and Charles Leclerc (right) pose at the car launch
‘The aim is obviously to win,’ he added.
‘The feeling of winning is what motivates me, and motivates the team as well, so I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car and hopefully try and win that championship.’
His Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz was equally upbeat, and thanked the fans for their support ahead of the new season.
‘Thank you for joining us today. It was a great pleasure to present the car with Ferrari, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Keep supporting us, that makes us stronger,’ said Sainz.
Ferrari have not won an F1 championship since Kimi Raikonnen beat Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in dramatic fashion in 2007.
They have rarely looked like ending a 16-year drought since then, with first Red Bull and then Mercedes enjoying dominant seasons at the front of the grid.
Red Bull have been the team to beat again in the last two years, but this season could see Ferrari finally challenge them on a consistent basis.
Ferrari was made to pay for some controversial pit-wall calls last term, but has since replaced team principal Mattia Binotto with former Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur.
The 54-year-old Frenchman wants to make an immediate impact by leading Ferrari back to the top step of the podium.
Leclerc and Sainz are expected to end Ferrari’s long wait for an F1 championship
‘I don’t want to be too happy just because I’m in a Ferrari,’ he said. ‘The most important thing is to win and that challenge is in front of us now. It will be a long time but the motivation is there.
‘Last year it was no secret that reliability was not the best aspect of our machine, but we did a great job at the factory and we are now ready for the season.
‘You can feel the responsibility for the team, and it’s a great honor, but the most important thing is to be successful and deliver. We’re in a good place.’
Vasseur’s arrival has led to increased optimism at Ferrari, and it won’t be long before fans should get a better understanding of exactly how competitive the team will be this season.
Pre-season testing will take place in Bahrain from February 23-25, with the first race of the season at the same track on March 5.
