Hamilton and Leclerc are ‘excited’ about the Mercedes-Ferrari P2 confrontation

Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc predict an “exciting” duel between their respective Mercedes and Ferrari teams for second place in the F1 constructors’ championship.

Before this week’s race in Qatar, the two teams were only 20 points apart, with Mercedes narrowly leading their opponents.

However, Ferrari has regained momentum recently thanks largely to the Italian team’s ability to alleviate the tire degradation problems that plague the SF-23 on race day.

Scuderia’s progress on this front allowed them to claim the title in Singapore – thanks to Carlos Sainz – the only win of the year achieved by a non-Red Bull team.

Although Mercedes and Ferrari aim to challenge the Milton Keynes-based team in the future and regularly vie for wins, they also believe that achieving second place in the constructors’ standings is part of rewards worth striving for. Leclerc in Japan last time commented: “Yes, in the end I think as Ferrari, especially  this year, we were second in Manufacturers last year, so the aim is to try to win won in Manufacturer this year.”

“After the first races, we understood that it was not realistic because Red Bull now has its own league.

“So Ferrari’s main objective is to win again as quickly as possible. That said, looking at this season, the best we can do is second place and we will do everything to achieve that.”

“It will be very tense because with Mercedes, it’s the same with McLaren but they are a little further apart among the constructors, now the three teams are very close.  “So it will be an exciting end to the season. It’s a shame to only get second place and not first.”

Hamilton’s most recent F1 victory came in  Saudi Arabia in 2021. But the seven-time world champion’s long drought, while hugely disappointing, has not eroded his momentum.

Like Leclerc, he will therefore give everything in the final stages of the season to help Mercedes stay ahead of their opponents in the championship.

“Yeah, it’s pretty similar to me. I think it’s interesting to have this race, this battle right now,” Hamilton said.

“I think our goal is… like them, we started the season pretty badly.

“I certainly didn’t expect us to be second in the Manufacturers and  now we’re relatively close, especially in the last two races… well, the last races and  fighting in the Manufacturers I think it’s exciting for us as a team.”

“And of course, we want to beat them just as much as they want to beat us, so it’s going to be a total team effort, that’s for sure.”