Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt has given his thoughts on Charles Leclerc and the Scuderia's season this year in Formula 1.

The Maranello-based outfit has been back on the top step this year but this season, many will feel, could have offered so much more.

The car has been very quick but, at times, fragile, whilst some strategy and driver mistakes have crept in along the way, and we're now in a position where Max Verstappen winning the title appears a foregone conclusion with as many as six races still to go.

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Jean Todt assesses the year at Ferrari and Charles Leclerc's campaign

Charles Leclerc at Monza

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 10: Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari prepares to drive in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 10, 2022 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

There are positives to take, of course, with both Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz taking victories this year but as someone who presided over the Scuderia's most dominant spell in the sport at the start of this century, Todt is better placed than most to identify the areas which need to be improved.

"Charles is already a great champion. He still lacks something, I hope he has it soon," said Todt on Leclerc, though he did not expand further on what was missing.

"Ferrari at one point had the best car in the championship," he then said on the team.

"Then they missed certain opportunities. I’m thinking of strategy, a Safety Car that came in at the wrong time, reliability problems. Different episodes had a cost. We have to reflect on this to avoid them happening again."

Todt's advice for Ferrari to learn for 2023 and beyond?

"Never leave anything to chance. And if you manage to leave nothing taken for granted, all the ingredients are there to be champions."

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Ferrari's 2022 season

Ferrari flag at Monza

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 10: A Ferrari flag flies in the Paddock prior to final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 10, 2022 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

We still have six races to go and Ferrari and Leclerc can still win both titles mathematically but the sensible heads say that it might be wise that they increase their focus on 2023, whilst trying to keep Mercedes at bay behind them.

Ultimately, this has been the first season in a while they've had the chance of winning a title, and that lack of experience compared to Red Bull, who are battle-hardened after 2021, has shown.

If lessons can be learned and applied for next year, though, Ferrari have demonstrated they have the base in terms of the car on which they can win races and championships.

Both Leclerc and Sainz will hope that that is what comes to pass.

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