Charles Leclerc — The Titan Lurking in the Shadows
Every championship battle has a protagonist and an antagonist. In 2021 it is a combination of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. These are two titans of the sport competing over the finest of margins. It was track limits in Bahrain, it was strategy in Barcelona.
With 19 races to go and only 14 points between them there is still plenty left to fight for and numerous twists and turns to come.
But, in the background, the next challenger is becoming more and more apparent.
This season will clearly be defined purely by the battle between Mercedes and Red Bull, but with the future of the sport set for immediate and drastic changes in 2022, perhaps the opportunity will arise for a new titan to join the fray.
McLaren certainly hope that this will be them. They have come a long way since the dark days of McHonda 2.0 with Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button.
A third place finish last season was the sign of a much improved team. Lando Norris has already bagged a podium this season and Daniel Ricciardo still has a lot more to offer the team than what we’ve seen so far.
However, the form of Charles Leclerc and the resurgence of Ferrari make them the team to most closely keep an eye on for the 2022 Formula One season.
The 23-year old debuted with the team in 2019 and immediately started challenging his four time world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel. Leclerc beat Vettel in that first season with the team, finishing fourth in the championship. He also picked up the most pole positions of any driver that year, taking home two victories and 10 podiums to boot.
The Ferrari took a massive step backwards in 2020, but Leclerc’s performance levels remained impressive. The Monegasque dominated Vettel.
While the veteran consistently failed to make Q3 on Saturdays and toiled outside the points positions, Leclerc was able to qualify as high as fourth on multiple occasions in a car that had no business being that quick relative to the field.
Ferrari have taken strides forward with their 2021 car and now are alongside McLaren in the battle for third in the constructors championship. Leclerc and Norris are fifth and fourth in the drivers standings respectively.
The Spanish Grand Prix was a timely reminder of just how talented Leclerc is. He was the only driver to improve on his second run in Q3 — qualifying in fourth. Leclerc then overtook Bottas around the outside of Turn Three, a move reminiscent of Alonso’s legendary start in the 2013 race.
The first stint on Sunday saw Leclerc keep Bottas behind him in a much quicker car. He was able to open up a gap to fifth place Ricciardo too. This pace set him up for a comfortable fourth place finish.
The Scuderia don’t quite have the pace to compete for victories alongside Red Bull and Mercedes, but the step forward from 2020 is hugely promising.
“It’s painful that we still have problems getting on the podium and fighting for wins,” said Leclerc.
“We have improved since last year, but we still have a long way to go to get to where we want to be and that is the top.
“If you compare it to 2020, the first four races were positive. We are focusing on 2022, that is our top priority. There will be no miracles this year. Next year there is a big opportunity for us.
“2022 will be a good opportunity for all teams to reset their performance. The cars will be so different because you can barely take anything over from this year.”
However, their poor performance in 2020 will now benefit their 2022 season. Their sixth place in the constructors standings gives them added wind tunnel testing time than the likes of McLaren, Red Bull and McLaren.
They can now also switch focus on next year’s car much earlier than Mercedes and Red Bull, who are both battling for race wins and championships.
This is not where Ferrari wants to be, but this is a new Ferrari. Never before have they had such a young driver lineup. Carlos Sainz has already adapted to his new surroundings quickly and impressively, too.
This is a Ferrari that is clearly thinking towards the future, and with Leclerc as the team leader out on track, they appear to be in safe, and quick, hands.
Leclerc and Ferrari might not be the headline makers right now, but they are patiently lurking in the background, an ominous presence like the post-credit scene of the latest Marvel film, and they will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in time to come.
For now, Leclerc’s performances will have to make do as timely reminders that Ferrari always comes back, and they will be protagonist, or antagonist, again soon.
