Explained: fake limit imposed on Charles Leclerc by Ferrari SF-23 car and what changed in second half of 2023

Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc experienced a notable transformation in his 2023 Formula 1 championship, thanks to an upgrade downplayed to some extent by the Maranello team. The entirety of Charles Leclerc’s 2023 campaign witnessed two distinct phases, separated by a pivotal modification to Ferrari’s F1 car, which significantly altered his performance and fortunes.

In the initial two-thirds of the season, the Monegasque faced challenges, possibly influenced by the idiosyncrasies of Ferrari’s unpredictable SF-23 or the constraints imposed on his aggressive style by both himself and the team in an attempt to control the car’s behavior. During this period, Leclerc encountered some unusually subpar weekends, and his impact was at times diminished by external factors. Instances include Ferrari’s communication mishap during Monaco qualifying, sacrificing his race to support teammate Carlos Sainz’s victory bid in Singapore at the Marina Bay street circuit, and an unfortunate failure leading to a formation lap crash in Brazil.

However, the primary source of Charles Leclerc’s difficulties was the car itself. It wasn’t until the last third of the season that Ferrari could truly unleash his full potential consistently, allowing him to showcase his talent to the fullest, as explained by The Race in this video: