09 February 2024 , 14:08
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Charles Leclerc declared "second place is not my target" as he warned Lewis Hamilton that he plans to put up a fight when they become Ferrari team-mates.
The seven-time world champion will join the Italians at the end of the year. Leclerc will be his team-mate, leaving Carlos Sainz to find a seat elsewhere to continue his Formula 1 career.
Speaking at a sponsor event, Leclerc did not mention Hamilton by name - but made it clear he doesn't want to play second-fiddle to anyone. He said: "To win the championship, this is the only target I have. I'm only happy when I win, second place is not my target.
"You need to give yourself realistic targets as well, as much as we are always optimistic and try to do the best job possible. We all want to win but looking at where we are starting from from last year, Red Bull had a big advantage.
"So now we need to close the gap as much as possible. We will do absolutely everything to try and, and do the step that, that is our goal in order to challenge."
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Ferrari have not mounted a serious title challenge during the three seasons in which Leclerc and Sainz have worked together. However, the consensus is that it has been due to a lack of car performance rather than any question over the ability of their two drivers, who have largely worked well together.
And Leclerc will be sad to see Sainz leave. The Monegasque added: "We have a very special relationship. We are obviously friends outside the track as well. We are sharing good moments. We spend so much time [together] - I see Carlos more than my own family because we've got 24 races now!"
Hamilton will also not be settling for number two driver status when he makes his Ferrari move. But former F1 racer Marc Surer thinks Leclerc can emulate Nico Rosberg by getting the better of the Briton within the same team.
"Leclerc is a big problem for [Hamilton] because Leclerc will be faster. Anything else would surprise me," the Swiss told Formel1.de. "It reminds me a bit of the situation with Michael Schumacher during his comeback with Mercedes. A certain Nico Rosberg put him in his place. And Lewis Hamilton could feel the same way."
Regarding the team Hamilton is leaving, Surer added: "Mercedes now has to rely entirely on Russell. But they're not allowed to, because you can't give a seven-time world champion second-class material. That means they have to treat both of them equally. That of course makes things difficult for Mercedes because they only have a chance against Max Verstappen if they rely on one."