Charles Leclerc's 2023 season was a testament to his qualifying ability and resilience in a Ferrari SF-23 that frequently struggled with race pace and tire degradation, preventing him from converting numerous pole positions into victories.
Going in
Following a 2022 season that began with Ferrari demonstrating championship potential, hopes were high for Charles Leclerc and the Scuderia entering 2023. The team aimed to build on the previous year's strong start, which saw Leclerc secure multiple wins and poles, as detailed in his Charles Leclerc — 2022 season retrospective. The ground-effect era, with its 18-inch wheels and simplified aero, was still relatively new, and Ferrari had shown flashes of brilliance. Leclerc, having debuted in 2018 and quickly established himself as a front-runner, was expected to contend for the Drivers' Championship, especially with a year of experience under the new regulations.
How it played out
The reality of the 2023 season quickly diverged from pre-season expectations. The SF-23 proved to be a challenging car, particularly in race trim. While it often possessed strong single-lap pace, allowing Leclerc to secure five pole positions, its performance over a full race distance was inconsistent. Tire degradation was a recurring issue, making it difficult for Leclerc to maintain positions or challenge the dominant Red Bull RB19s. Teammate Carlos Sainz also grappled with the car's characteristics, though he managed to secure Ferrari's only victory of the season in Singapore. The head-to-head battle saw Leclerc frequently out-qualify Sainz, demonstrating his raw speed. However, race results were more varied, with both drivers experiencing the car's fluctuating performance. Leclerc ultimately finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship with 206 points, six points ahead of Sainz, despite Sainz's singular win.
Defining moments
The season started with a mechanical DNF for Leclerc in Bahrain, setting an early tone of frustration. Azerbaijan saw him convert a pole position into a third-place finish, a strong result given the car's limitations but not a victory. Another pole in Belgium highlighted his qualifying prowess, though the race again saw him unable to fight for the win. The latter part of the season brought a noticeable improvement in Ferrari's performance and Leclerc's consistency. His pole position and a strong second-place finish in the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix were a particular highlight, showcasing his ability to extract maximum performance when the car allowed. This late-season surge continued into Abu Dhabi, where another pole position and a strategic drive secured him second place, narrowly missing out on a final podium behind Sergio Pérez in the championship standings.