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Leclerc: Good sign if Ferrari struggles to manage drivers

Published on 23 Feb 2019 11:43
4
By: Fergal Walsh

Charles Leclerc says that it will look good for him if Ferrari has an issue managing its drivers throughout the 2019 season.

Leclerc joins the Scuderia outfit after making his debut with Sauber in 2018. Ferrari opted to promote the Monegasque driver in place of Kimi Raikkonen, who went the other way to Sauber (now called Alfa Romeo) on a two-year deal.

The 21-year-old admits that he has a lot to learn, but says that it will be a good sign if the outfit's new team principal Mattia Binotto has trouble managing him and his new teammate Sebastian Vettel.

"Obviously I will be happy if I get used to this car as soon as possible and that I'm straight on the pace," he said." But I'm realistic too, it's only my second season in Formula 1 and I have a lot to learn.

"There's a long road ahead, but I'm pushing to be as ready as possible for the first race and if Mattia has the problem to manage two quick drivers then it's a good sign for me."

"But I want to focus on myself, trying to improve every time I'm going in the car. It's a top team and they are quite different to the team I was in before so it's a bit of an adaption."

Leclerc added that he is looking forward to learning from Vettel, as the team looks to end its long drought of championship-less years: "Seb is a very nice guy and it's not difficult to get on with him, so that's good.

"We are working on different things with the car and it's good to have Seb next to me during these days [at testing]. It's good to see what are his strong points and what I can learn from him."

Ferrari topped the opening two days of pre-season testing from Barcelona, with Leclerc posting the fastest time on day two. Early data suggests that the Italian marque is a step ahead of the field, however little can be judged until the opening weekends of the season.

F1 News Charles Leclerc Ferrari

Replies (4)

Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
Let the mind games begin. PSYCH!
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- Feb 23 2019 - 19:13
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
You talk the talk, you've so far walked the walk. Keep walking and talking, and I'll be stalking... Well, I won't, that'd be weird and creepy, and Im not really into lads anyway, but that's what rhymed... I will however fanboy him. He could very well end up being my new favourite driver.
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- Feb 23 2019 - 20:17
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  I really wish him the best and hope he gets to challenge for the WDC, but Ferrari doesn't to "struggling to manage drivers." I am not sure what kind of brainwash they undergo, but you don't ever see them racing each other, challenging orders, and especially both fighting for a championship. After Binnotto's comments I sadly expect Charles to be a #2 unless something crazy happens. I hope I'm wrong.
  + 0
  
  Feb 24 2019 - 17:01
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  There is one trail of thought that might imply he won't be one the same way as Kimi was: the Stallion doesn't quite hold Vettel to the same kinda divine "saviour of the team" standard anymore. They still regard him highly, don't get me wrong, as they should considering his skills, but I feel the hype has cooled off. And with that, I suspect even Ferrari has gained a degree of desperation, and with that, maybe an unwillingness to cater to only one of their drivers. Vettel wanted Kimi for 2019, Im sure of that, but he didn't get that, be it of Kimi wanting out or Ferrari not caving in (it took two there, methinks), but they opted for Leclerc. Im not sure this was them just wanting a second driver, especially considering how "not Ferrari" this move was.
  + 0
  
  Feb 24 2019 - 17:20