Charles Leclerc revealed that the traits of the new for 2022 Formula 1 cars meant that braking early going into corners is sometimes better to avoid locking up.
That goes against all the instincts of F1 drivers who always push the limits with their cars trying to delay their braking as late as possible when entering a corner.
However, in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Leclerc reflected on the different feel the 2022 F1 cars gave the drivers and how they needed to be handled.
“First you notice the high weight,” Leclerc said of this generation of F1 cars. “The car just feels sluggish. If you lose the rear end, it’s much harder to hold the car. The confidence in the car is not as high as in the previous years I was in Formula 1.
“When the car was lighter and you could catch it better. Because of the weight, braking is also different. Front tyre lockup is a big deal. We saw that a lot,” he revealed.
Asked of earlier braking is the way to go, the Ferrari ace said: “Yes, but it’s always difficult to ask that of a Formula 1 driver. We always find it easier to push even harder. Restraint is something else. With these cars, you had to do that.”
Ferrari came up with their impressive F1-75 at the start of the season, a good looking car that started its life as the benchmark of the grid, that is until Red Bull caught up with their RB18, and surpassed the Scuderia.
And while Leclerc was fast out of the box in his F1-75, teammate Carlos Sainz struggled to match him, and wasn’t able to get his head around his new ride.
Work in pre-season testing behind Leclerc’s strong form
Asked about the reasons for that, Leclerc said: “I changed a few things. The way I work. The way I discipline myself at home. It was a bit freestyle last year. Whenever I was at home, I got a thousand things done.
“To be honest, I was very tired in 2021 from the middle of the season until the end. That affected me, and affected the performance,” he admitted.
“It’s also possible that this car suits me better,” Leclerc pointed out. “We had a great winter test. We tried a lot of things there. We put a lot of focus on how I can drive the car. That helped me start the season on a high level. I was able to concentrate on the details.”
Quizzed as to how long it took him to get the handle of his F1-75, the Monegasque said: “This season, the winter test was enough.
“By the end, I knew what to do with the car. Then over the year you learn different things that maybe there wasn’t time for in the winter tests. That comes with experience. The big picture was there after the winter tests,” he maintained.
Leclerc finished the 2022 season runner up to Max Verstappen after beating Sergio Perez at Abu Dhabi’s season finale.
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