Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Albert Park, 2020

Leclerc will take more risks to win title if season is shortened

2020 F1 season

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Charles Leclerc is prepared to take more risks on-track to win the world championship if the Formula 1 season is drastically shortened this year.

The first nine races on the 2020 F1 calendar have already been postponed or cancelled due to the global pandemic. F1 owners Liberty Media are aiming to schedule up to 19 of the original 22 races.

But the sport’s rules require just eight to take place in order for the championship to be legitimate. In that scenario, Leclerc said he would take a riskier approach to win the world title.

“I’m pretty sure Mercedes and Lewis [Hamilton] are still the favourites even if it’s an eight race championship,” he said in a press conference yesterday. “So it’s going to be very difficult to beat them.

“But I will probably risk a bit more on track with risky strategies, risky overtakes and maybe it will pay off, maybe it will not.”

Leclerc said at least a dozen races are needed in order for a “significant” championship season to be held.

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“I think probably around 12 or 13 will be the minimum I would like to race at least for a significant championship,” he said. “[Less than] that is quite difficult.

“Less than 12 is always better than nothing. So whatever we can go with. But it would be great to try and squeeze 12 races at least this season.”

Ferrari’s performance in pre-season testing raised doubts over how competitive they will be when the season begins. Leclerc said they are not be favourites to win the championship and the delay to the start of the season won’t change that.

“It’s difficult because we haven’t done still the first quali,” he said. “So we are still left with the thoughts we had during testing, which were not easy, to be completely honest. So we still need to wait and see.

“I don’t think this whole situation will make a big change in the standing that we’ve seen after testing. So for now we are not favourites and we know it.”

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11 comments on “Leclerc will take more risks to win title if season is shortened”

  1. I think if the season does go ahead with an 8-12 round season, whoever wins will have the unfortunate honour of “champion only because of the short season”. I think no matter who it is, they will be remembered only for that reason and receive the traditional, “yeah but they only won because…”
    I hope the season goes ahead in any form, I’m desperate to see some action, but if I was a driver racing in a 12 or under season, this would be a championship I would probably not want to win

    1. That will only happen if Lewis doesn’t win it.

  2. I remember Charles saying similar stuff before the Monaco GP, but I agree…to get a foot between the door in such a short season consistency alone may not be enough… you may need the luck… or forced luck factor.

  3. Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
    23rd April 2020, 11:02

    The thing is, if you take more risks, i can see it going wrong. If in a top team and you are fighting for the championship over a short season, I think you need to be pretty careful really. Leclerc messed up badly in Monaco, Germany and Japan. At least 2 of them were down to taking unnecessary risks.

    1. @thegianthogweed – Fair assessment. Not to mention that is exactly why Vettel got where he is right now.

  4. He is winning the championship so far :D Virtual one.

  5. Perhaps he thinks he should do this because the car isn’t up to snuff, but of course the other side of the coin is that with a shortened season a dnf is a much harder thing from which to rebound. Might be just as prudent to finish every race consistently and maximize points that way. It’ll likely come down to whatever each race, or even stint, offers him in terms of performance and opportunity as to what risks he may or may not take.

    1. @robbie – It may be surprising for some people around here, but under those conditions, I’d say Verstappen’s shot increases significantly. He can be following the points close enough and still pull those wins you don’t expect.

  6. If I’m to see performances like Monza, then I can’t wait. But if he comes with Austria or worse, Singapore, then I’ll pass.

  7. So he will endanger more lives and be worse than time when Verratappen was nicknamed Crashtappen while getting away from literal murder as he is a goon of MaFIA.

  8. Yeah, put on the big boy pants and do some Hamster testing! Me likey…..

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