WATCH: Charles Leclerc eyes championship battle, says 'I’m not a referee'

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, currently sitting third in the Formula One drivers' championship standings, is refusing to see himself as a passive player in the title fight between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. With only 34 points separating him from McLaren's Norris and 86 points from the reigning champion Verstappen, Leclerc is positioning himself to play an active role in the closing stages of the season.

Leclerc’s message is clear: he’s not there to act as a referee but to make a serious impact on the points tally. He stated, "I wouldn’t consider that a referee. Probably the FIA is much more of a referee than I am." His objective is simple—to disrupt the current standings and put himself in contention by stealing as many points as possible from the top two drivers.

Here is the video:

"lando or max?"
charles: ah it's difficult. i think lando for the car, max for the points. at the end of the day, it's going to be a tight battle until the end and i hope we can join that battle if they do a bit of mess in front 😊 pic.twitter.com/MX9bBPD4H5

— clara (@leclercsletters) October 18, 2024

However, the Monegasque driver also emphasized that his focus is primarily on his performance. "The goal is obviously to steal as many points as we can from them," he said, but hinted at a bigger ambition, adding, "If we do everything perfectly, there’s still a slight possibility of us joining the fight."

How is the World Championship shaping up?

The fight for Charles Leclerc is far from over, and Ferrari, who are also in a strong position in the Constructors' World Championship, are equally committed. The Italian team sits third in the standings with 441 points, trailing Red Bull Racing by just 34 points and McLaren by 75 points. Leclerc's determination to capitalize on any opportunities to win races remains firm as the season approaches its critical phase.

For Leclerc, it’s not just about securing points but about getting back into the title race. "That's the only thing I have in mind—just focusing on my performance and trying to win as many races as possible whenever there's the opportunity to do so," Leclerc concluded. With the stakes high and the competition fierce, the Ferrari driver is determined to make his presence felt in the final laps of the championship battle.