After finishing 2022 in second place, Ferrari hoped to take the next step this year and fight for the title. However, it soon became clear that the SF-23 was not such a good vehicle. Although the car looked good on one lap, it wasn't good enough at race pace and fell behind its rivals, especially in terms of tire wear.
Ferrari's Monaco driver Charles Leclerc compared his experiences to 2020 after not making a very good start to the season.
“Our motivation was very high during the winter,” said Leclerc. said. "Last year we finished second in the championship and all we had to aim for at that point was to become world champion."
“But at the first weekend in Bahrain we realized that our situation was difficult and after Jeddah everything became clear.”
“You need to know how to accept that, and I personally think I do.”
“It was a bit like reliving 2020. Three years ago we quickly realized that the results did not meet expectations. These are easy zammoments, the most important thing in such situations is to have a clear working direction.”
“It is very easy to lose your way in moments like these.”
“But in any case I feel better compared to 2020 and I am convinced that we are working in the right direction.”
“We are all striving to go in the same direction, but our competitors are making progress as well, so getting things right is not easy.”
“Our goal is still to get back to the top as soon as possible.”
