LeClerc to replace Hamilton April 19, 2023 · by thejudge13 · in Daily F1 News and Comment. Last year saw Sainz claim his first pole position and race win, though overall the season was a disappointment for the Spaniard. His six DNF’s contributed to a 62 point deficit to his team mate who finished three places ahead of him right behind F1 champion Max Verstappen. With Ferrari’s early form this year being something to forget, Sainz is again on a roll and despite ‘being robbed’ by the Australian stewards of 12 valuable points, he leads the Ferrari charge at present with 20 of the team’s 26 points. Carlos signed a two year extension to his deal with Ferrari last year which surprisingly leaves the team with both drivers out of contract come the end of 2024. This may come back to haunt the Scuderia particularly as their ‘chosen son’ LeClerc appears to be demotivated by the backward direction the team is moving along the grid. LeClerc will have served six seasons with Ferrari come the end of next year and should Lewis Hamilton decide enough is enough ia switch to Brackley would be a natural move for the Ferrari driver to make given the Mercedes’ recent history of success.
I want to see him win with Ferrari, but I wouldn't blame him at all if he left. Ferrari should know what they have and he has nothing else to prove to the team. I would assume Lando would be the next poor sucker in line to get worked over by them, but it would still be an improvement over McLaren.
To a "sixty-plus" old f.rt like me, five years are nothing, gone in the blink of the eye. To a youngster in his early twenties, five years are an eternity, especially when waiting for something that does not happen. Either the fortunes of the team will know a spectacular turn around very quickly, or Charles should leave; I would be disappointed if he doesn't (especially if there is a "reasonable" opportunity in a good team). Lando is more or less on the same boat, I guess; one or two more years waiting for something that does not come, and he will be damaged goods. Admittedly, it's a difficult situation, the risk being timing your move just at the wrong moment. But the other side of the coin is being reminded for the "great hope" that never mattered. Rgds
Charles being demotivated is BS, in fact, he's so demotivated that he spent the whole week in the simulator at maranello! AS for moving along, i hope he doesn't, but if Merc improves and Ferrari doesn't, i'm pretty sure he'll leave, he wants and needs to win...maybe he'll return as champion .....but i think Ferrari will turn around and they'll bring us the bacon! I loved the fact that Alesi was with Ferrari for so long, but i also regret the fact he didn't went to Williams and showed everyone what just how good he was. Charles deserves to win, and i hope he does it, Ferrari or not.
It's not a question of "motivation" in itself, it's the "downwards spiral" that I fear the most for them. Emerson Fittipaldi once said that when he left McLaren for Copersucar, after one year or two of driving mediocre cars, he had lost his edge, without being aware of it; he thought he was still motivated as ever, but the fact is that the sharp edge was lost, and only when he re-invented himself in Indycar was he able to restaure his confidence. That's more or les what I mean when I speak about "damaged goods"; those boys are very valuable, until one day, well, then...some people start to think "he was the future champion, but that was three or four years ago, now, I'm not so sure". Look at Daniel Ricciardo, for instance (who, admitedly, is older) one wrong move and...he still thinks he might come back to the top, but I think he is toasted. Youngters like Charles or Lando have not that much time in front of them now; one or two more years in the doldrums, then their opportunity might be gone for ever; they might have still one chance left, so they need accurate timing for their decision (to move or not to move) and if they decide to move, a good opportunity, also. One wrong choice, then it will be over. Rgds
23-24-25, what constructors will do the best job? That will then be changed in 2026 with the next engine formula. With the dominance of Red Bull so far this year (and that could still change) we might be looking at nothing but Red Bull on top until 2026, with the shuffling of LEC/SAI/HAM/RUS/NOR/ALO just looking for podiums at best.
I can't remember which driver who said that driving uncompetitive cars for too long blunts your skill. I am not pretending that Ferraris are bad cars, but they are not top cars at the moment. Leclerc, whom I rate highly, may have the king of career Ickx, Amon, or Alesi had before him.
I think most likely to replace Hamilton would be Norris. They can get him for peanuts. Brown may claim there isn't a get out clause but there isn't a hope in hell that's true. Leclerc will have to be bought out more than likely.
That would be my guess, indeed: RB dominance 'till the 2025 season included. Although I do hope that it could be different. But if we look at the past 14-15 years, we have: - a Red Bull dominance and champion in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (despite some challenges here and there...2010 & 2012, for instance) - a Mercedes dominance and champion in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 (despite some mild challenges from Ferrari here and there) - a Red Bull dominance in 2021 and 2022 (despite the finale we all know about) I think that the era when the positions could be radically changed from one season to another has ended, at least for now. As for the change frome a new formula, engine, chassis or whatever...it usually favors the most competitive teams, so I wouldn't bet on that; unless Newey decides to retires... Rgds
To me the driver is secondary to the team. I don’t really care who’s driving for the Scuderia as long as they win. As for LEC, yes, he’s had some bad breaks and poor support, but he’s made plenty of mistakes as well. I don’t mind if he goes as long as he’s replaced with somebody better.
Well, the "proof of the pudding" is not here yet, as Lando still has to win, but I think that the question is valid; Leclerc tends to make mistakes that Lando doesn't. Of course, only if the two were in identical cars could we have a better perspective, but I'm with Bas on this: considering the moneys involved, I would hire Lando; unless I could have Charles for the same price...but I wouldn't value Charles "some millions" above Lando, no. Rgds
One could say that Lando Norris has never been under the kind of pressure Charles Leclerc has. At times, Leclerc cracks under pressure because he carries more expectation, driving for Ferrari, IMO. Lando looks good, because the McLaren isn't a top car, so any performance above average appears fantastic. But, in terms of "raw speed", I rate Leclerc above Norris. Now I start to question Russell: is he in the same league as Verstappen and Leclerc ?
Alonso hasn't lost his skill after driving uncompetitive cars. Agree somewhat on the 2nd sentence. I would pay more for Leclerc over Norris.
I think Alonso is an outlier. He’s a top 10 of all time F1 driver who has competed in several other series.
IF we are looking at 2026 as when this happens there could be more to the landscape than just a Hamilton seat. Aston Martin with a new engine partner and will Alonso say it is time to retire? Max deciding that he has had enough of the BS and pulls his ripcord? There seems to be a sense that Max may be getting to the full point on the BS around F1. IF the rumors of Sainz to Audi are true that opens that seat too. So, could it be 2 seats at Ferrari or do they make sure they get their solution locked in early and Leclerc in an airtight contract extension?
On May 12th, this year, it will be the tenth anniversary of Fernando's last Formula One Grand Prix win... Should he win another one again, this will be the longest interval ever between two races; in actual time, or in the number of races. Rgds
As for myself: certainly, yes. It mainly depends on the car. The car is 90% of success nowadays. Give Lewis a good car again, he'll shine again, no problem. The ONLY team where it doesn't depend on the car is Ferrari. Even with a good car, they might manage to shoot themselves in the feet, "all alone by themselves". "The worst enemy of Ferrari has always been Ferrari". Rgds
Nope, and I have already said so. For me he started to decline in 2021, making uncharacteristic mistakes, IMO. Same can be said about Mercedes too; they lost their invincibility, and Red Bull took over. In the case of Mercedes, I blame the budget cap; they used to solve all their problems with money. Now they can't.
Right, but I don’t think it’s down to a lack of sharpness. He’s as wily as ever. He just doesn’t have a car capable of winning just like Hamilton doesn’t.
