13 Weeks After Lap 1 Disaster, Crumbling Charles Leclerc Urged to Re-Emerge as Ferrari Frustrations Continue to Pull Him Down

More than the physicality of Formula 1, it’s the mental aspect where the drivers lose. Not over one race, but when the battle draws out and the championship is at stake. Although, even a hint of winning the championship, like the one Charles Leclerc got in the previous season, can drive a pilot to the limit. However, losing out on the ultimate goal is equally harrowing. Such scenarios can crush any driver’s spirits and crush their desire to race. After an observation by Peter Windsor, that might be the case with the Monegasque and it shows. However, Windsor is urging Leclerc to re-emerge from this hole he has put himself in.

Charles Leclerc has been troubled with repeated strategic blunders and reliability issues since the 2022 season. Despite the managerial overhaul, this fixture has continued at Ferrari. According to Windsor, Leclerc has not been himself since the Australian GP which ended with a crash in the opening lap. In fact, he has failed to make it to Q3 in the last two races. This is exactly why Windsor, in his latest YouTube video, urged Charles to “re-emerge”.

“I’m not so sure Charles [Leclerc] we’ve seen since Melbourne is the real Charles Leclerc. I wish he’d sort of re-emerge and come out from under that bush over there,” said Windsor in his F1 Live Chat. Leclerc’s anger and sadness in Melbourne were unquestionable, considering he won that race just a year ago. So, the Lap 1 disaster may have given him a bitter taste of reality in 2023.

He might not be as vocal about it compared to last year but if you pay attention, you can see the frustration build up in Leclerc. In fact, the Monegasque was even caught on camera explaining his frustrations about the SF23 like he was talking to a therapist.

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Leclerc is staying tight-lipped but his mental and emotional state is being exposed by his body language. In fact, Windsor also gave his expert opinion on Leclerc’s mindset.

Charles Leclerc might be stepping into a concerning mindset with Ferrari’s constant troubles

The Monegasque was told off multiple times during the previous season for his verbal bashing of Ferrari’s errors. The errors have continued but Leclerc’s opinions have subsided. However, this could very well mean he has stopped feeling that passion for Ferrari which he used to at the start of his tenure with the team. In fact, his recent race performances give a hint of the same and Windsor also believes the same.

“I have the impression that Charles has come to a point in his career at Ferrari where he realizes that he has given everything in every possible way and that it has not worked,” said Windsor. However, Windsor feels despite his best efforts at keeping his emotions at bay, he might be “quite emotional, and in the back of his mind he has a kind of complex pressure.”

No one is sure what is going through Leclerc’s mind. Although one would hope it’s not as concerning as Windsor believes.

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