Ferrari expects Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to fight for title in 2023 as former world champions prepare for car launch

Charles Leclerc says Mercedes will be part of Pink Bull and Ferrari in title combat this yr; On Hamilton: “We should not overlook what he achieved within the sport and he nonetheless has it.”; Watch Mercedes’ automobile launch dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 at 9.15am on Wednesday

Charles Leclerc is adamant that Mercedes will face Pink Bull and Ferrari for the Formulation 1 title in 2023 and believes Lewis Hamilton can lead their restoration because the legendary driver “nonetheless has it”.

Mercedes will change into the penultimate crew to unveil their automobile on Wednesdaywith the launch dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 and our YouTube and digital platforms from 9:15 a.m. earlier than a shakedown at Silverstone.

It is a much-anticipated unveiling for a W14 that’s anticipated to be very completely different to its underperforming predecessor, with Mercedes hoping to get again in rivalry after falling from F1 dominance to 3rd place final yr.

Ferrari driver Leclerc, who completed second behind Max Verstappen in 2022, is making ready for an additional crew to affix the championship combat.

“Despite the fact that we’re motivated to win, we all know how tough will probably be,” Leclerc stated. Sky Sports activities Information after the launch of Ferrari’s new automobile, the SF-23, on Tuesday.

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Talking in Sky F1’s season assessment, pundit Karun Chandhok stated that of all of the groups subsequent yr Mercedes’ automobile would be the most completely different in pre-season testing.

“Mercedes may even be there after having a really sturdy finish to the season final yr, so will probably be a tricky championship.”

Leclerc additionally predicts a response from Hamilton.

After 5 titles in seven years to make him a seven-time champion, Hamilton endured his worst F1 season final yr in sixth after struggling to grasp the tough Mercedes automobile and new younger team-mate George Russell.

Leclerc harassed: “Lewis won’t ever be out of the query for the title combat.

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Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz says the crew is aware of what they should enhance on in the event that they need to go additional and win titles this season

“I am fairly positive if he has the automobile he’ll be there. We mustn’t overlook what he is achieved within the sport and he nonetheless has it, we noticed that a number of occasions final yr. .

“Lewis shall be there and so will Pink Bull and hopefully will probably be an ideal combat.”

Hamilton is aiming for a report eighth championship in 2023.

What to anticipate from the Mercedes launch and the best way to watch

Mercedes has hinted at large modifications for its new automobile after admitting it received severely unsuitable with its 2022 idea after the foundations had been refreshed. Above all, the eight-time world champions understood the issue simply in time to work on this yr’s automobile, which can have a distinct “DNA”.

“The DNA of the automobile goes to alter, that is for positive,” crew principal Toto Wolff stated final yr.

“It does not essentially imply that the bodywork goes to be very completely different, however what’s a part of the automobile’s DNA with the structure is certainly going to alter for subsequent yr.”

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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc drives the brand new SF-23 automobile for the primary time round their well-known Maranello base

It stays to be seen what Mercedes reveals when it launches, though there are actually some notable variations from the W13 instantly. A silver livery, in the meantime, can be anticipated to stay.

You possibly can watch the launch dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 at 9.15am, whereas it would even be dwell on our app, web site and YouTube.

There’s one other launch after Mercedes – that of Alpine on Thursday night – forward of pre-season testing from February 23-25 ​​and the season-opening Bahrain GP on March 5.