Leclerc thanks Ferrari for strategy call: "Only chance to beat Checo"

Charles Leclerc has finished second in the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship. The man from Monaco had Sergio Perez hunting him down in the late stages of the race, but Leclerc managed to keep a big enough gap in the last few laps to avoid a wheel-to-wheel duel.

The Ferrari strategy wall has come under question throughout the 2022 season but on the final day, the decision to convert into a one-stop ensured that Leclerc held onto P2 in the race and World Championship. Leclerc alluded to this point in his post-race interview with Jenson Button.

"I was 110% from the first to the last lap. I knew that the only chance for us to beat Checo was with a different strategy and playing with the tyre management. We managed to make the one-stop work so really happy," Leclerc said.

At the start of the season, it looked like Verstappen and Leclerc would have a season-long battle. It wasn't to be as Ferrari made some mistakes and then lost out in the development race. But Leclerc has hopes for next season.

"I really hope next year we can do a step forward, considering where we were last year it's a big step forward. We improved in terms of strategy towards the end of the season. We need to work on race pace because Sunday we seem to struggle a little bit more," Leclerc added.