Ferrari's Leclerc Looks to 2023 in Last Races of F1 Season

Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - July 7, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ahead of the Grand Prix REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - July 7, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ahead of the Grand Prix REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
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Ferrari's Leclerc Looks to 2023 in Last Races of F1 Season

Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - July 7, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ahead of the Grand Prix REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - July 7, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ahead of the Grand Prix REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said on Wednesday he will be competing with 2023 in mind during the final two races of the Formula One season.

The next race will be this weekend at Interlagos in Brazil and the final one at Abu Dhabi on Nov. 20.

The 25-year-old Leclerc has three wins and 10 podiums this season. He’s third in the championship after the Red Bulls of defending champion Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, respectively.

Asked at a media event in Sao Paulo whether he is looking forward to challenging Perez for second place in the drivers' championship, Leclerc replied: "My mind is mostly focused on next year.”

“It is hard to predict exactly what will happen next year, and we will not keep focusing on others. I think it is clear for us as a team which areas we need to improve,” The Associated Press quoted Leclerc as saying. “We will focus on that and on being a better team. And then I hope we beat anyone next year, no matter if it is Mercedes or Red Bull.”

Leclerc, who is five points behind Perez, added he and Ferrari will do “everything to try and get the best results possible for the last two races.”

“But the most important is to try to build on these last two races in order to be a better team next year,” he added.

Ferrari is second in the constructors’ championship, 209 points behind champions Red Bull and 40 ahead of Mercedes.



Real Madrid Survive Dortmund Scare to Reach Club World Cup Semis

Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)
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Real Madrid Survive Dortmund Scare to Reach Club World Cup Semis

Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)

Real Madrid edged past Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a dramatic Club World Cup quarter-final on Saturday to set up a semi-final against Paris St Germain.

The Spanish giants stamped their authority on the match early at the MetLife Stadium, dominating possession and opening a two-goal lead thanks to strikes by Gonzalo and Fran Garcia in the 10th and 20th minutes.

Despite the reduced intensity of play in New Jersey's scorching heat, Real comfortably saw out the match, leaving Dortmund unable to mount a comeback until the game exploded into life in added time.

Substitute Maximilian Beier pounced on a rebound in the 93rd minute to pull one back for Dortmund, but a minute later Kylian Mbappe restored Real’s two-goal cushion with a stunning volley, showcasing his trademark composure.

Dortmund refused to back down, however, and Serhou Guirassy’s pace saw him break through Real’s defense only to be pulled down in the box by Dean Huijsen.

The defender was shown a straight red card, ruling him out of the semi-final, and Guirassy coolly converted the resulting spot-kick to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Dortmund came within inches of forcing extra time when in the ninth minute of added time Thibaut Courtois produced a sensational save to deny Marcel Sabitzer’s powerful strike.

Real Madrid now turn their attention to PSG, who defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals. The winners of that clash will face Fluminense or Chelsea in the final.