“I really believe in Fred”: Leclerc explains why he extended his deal to stay at Ferrari – RaceFans

Charles Leclerc stated he turned down provides to go away Ferrari as a result of he believes crew principal Frederic Vasseur could make them winners once more.

Ferrari confirmed this week Leclerc has signed a brand new contract to stay on the crew. He joined the Ferrari from Sauber in 2019 having entered System 1 as a part of their younger driver programme.

Leclerc stated he determined to remain at Ferrari partly as a result of “I like the crew – I feel that’s fairly apparent from the surface.”

“It’s been eight years with the System 1 crew, 10 years with Ferrari as an entire. They had been one of many first to imagine in me and to assist me to get to the place I’m immediately.”

Nevertheless he harassed “I imagine within the venture most of all. I feel with Fred we have now a really, excellent relationship and I strongly imagine that he’s the individual that will have the ability to convey Ferrari again to the highest.”

After the primary 5 rounds, Leclerc lies third within the drivers’ championship, however is already 56 factors behind chief Andrea Kimi Antonelli. He admitted the crew hoped to be in a extra aggressive place after F1 launched new guidelines this 12 months.

“It’s been an excellent begin of the season,” he stated, “clearly inferior to what we might need as a result of we goal the world championship.

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“However there’s been plenty of innovation on the automobile. We all know the place we’re missing and that’s in all probability extra the engine facet. We’ve obtained a plan developing and hopefully it’ll assist us to get again to the place we need to be.”

Leclerc stated it was “principally Fred” which gave him perception within the crew’s potential. The pair labored collectively at Sauber in 2018, then Vasseur joined Ferrari initially of 2023 instead of Mattia Binotto.

The progress Ferrari has made with its 2026 automobile exhibits Vasseur’s management is paying off, stated Leclerc. “I’m very onboard along with his imaginative and prescient and I actually imagine in Fred,” he defined.

“Clearly [this is] the primary automobile that he projected along with the crew. We’re seeing plenty of innovation on our automobile.

“We’ve a long-term imaginative and prescient – not too lengthy as a result of clearly all of us need to win as rapidly as attainable – however as quickly as attainable to be again on high. I’m onboard with this imaginative and prescient and I imagine on this imaginative and prescient.

“That’s what makes me imagine about this this venture greater than ever.”

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