Mercedes will “definitely” be in 2023 title fight, says Leclerc · RaceFans

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Mercedes will “definitely” be in 2023 title fight, says Leclerc

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc says that Mercedes will “definitely” be in the championship battle next season after a down year in 2022.

Mercedes sank to third in the constructors’ championship this season after struggling with porpoising with their W13 at the start of the season. The team recovered over the season to join Red Bull and Ferrari at the front of the field, with George Russell taking one race win in Brazil.

“I do believe that Mercedes will be in the fight,” Leclerc said. “We’ve seen how much they’ve improved from the first race to the last race. I think they understood what they did wrong. This is normally the sign that it will go better. So hopefully it will be a three team fight next year.”

Asked if he would prefer to have a three way battle at the front of the field rather than a duel, Leclerc said “of course.”

“But not only me, I think everybody,” he continued. “I think the more cars are involved, the closer the cars are, the happier the drivers are, because that’s when it gets interesting.”

Haas first team to confirm 2023 chassis homologation

Haas have become the first team to confirm their 2023 chassis has been officially homologated and has passed its mandatory FIA crash safety test.

All teams must have their cars fully homologated by the FIA before they are permitted to be run in testing or competition. In a post on social media, the team said that the “chassis and nose for the VF-23 have passed their FIA tests and are officially homologated – a significant landmark in the development of our 2023 car.”

The sole pre-season test for next year’s Formula 1 season will take place in Bahrain between February 23rd to the 25th.

Lawson to race Super Formula with Honda

Red Bull junior driver Liam Lawson will race in next year’s Super Formula series in 2023 after signing with Honda-powered team Mugen.

Lawson, who competed in the last two seasons of Formula 2, had three Friday practice runs in Formula 1 this season with both Red Bull and AlphaTauri. He also tested a Super Formula car at the recent pre-season test at Suzuka.

Lawson becomes the latest Red Bull junior to move into the Japanese single-seater series after racing in Formula 2, following the likes of Pierre Gasly.