Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Junior driver

Vettel under pressure and head games lol. Vettel is not a good pressure driver. If Charles is Ricci #2 on Vettel there wont be a need for headgames from Vettel and he does not appear to be a good 'player' of them at all when under pressure. He is utterly consistent the last 2 years, childish and stupid outbursts on the radio and poorly timed/executed moves when he just needed to be patient. He is old enough now where he will have to literally fight to change himself to compete with a Charles that is beating him, if that is the case. I have zero faith in Vettel. He lacks race-craft and that is now evident over 2 years consistently.

He might surprise me but I have faith in the lack of change, significant change at his age. He has experience but that did not really show itself this year did it?? For me now Vettel talks the good game and executes a poor one when he needs to show the perfect one. Between LH and Charles or Max, Vettel is now out-classed unless he makes a decent and sound effort to change and drive as he should with 4 titles. Unfortunately he did not need much race craft winning them. He is over rated.

If Charles does beat him and I feel that is a real possibility given his record in other series and his progress at Sauber, Vettel leaves or stays as the #2 if Ferrari keep him at all. If Ferrari offer him a #2 role he would refuse it in my opinion. He already left one team when beaten by a Jr driver.

 

Charles is an excellent driver, and the year at Sauber has given him an insight into how the F1 teams operate, but don’t forget, he will take time to acclimatise no matter how comfortable Ferrari try to make him feel. Vettel is no fool, he will enter the year with a refreshed mindset, and the challenge may either make him or break him, time will tell. In the meantime, we must remember that even Michael, while showing himself one of the two fastest drivers in F1 from his debut, still took time to become championship material with pressured mistakes early on, silly things that wouldn’t be happening later in his career. Charles may still be prone to a few of these, and with a competitor like the Mercedes, even a couple of those mistakes is enough to destroy a title challenge when things are so tight. In my opinion, Ferrari MUST concentrate on having Charles drive for the benefit of Sebastian this year, unless Sebastian at some point collapses under pressure. An internal race with Charles will mean Ferrari WILL NOT win any championships yet again, and that would be a travesty if this years car has the promise of last years.

Finally, the engineers need to be certain of the design ethos of the car, and be sure to recognise the good and the bad changes they make early enough that they do not spend a number of races chasing shadows

 

Charles does not have a maturity problem and thats why he was hired. He is mature for his age. I give Vettel 3-5 races to show an edge that is consistent over Charles. If not the knives will come out in the press and the rumors will be thick given the history Vettel had with Ricci. Charles is not MS or Vettel. We can offer parallels but his contemporaries think he can challenge and quickly at that. This is the story for the year along with Perez and Stroll LOL

 

I'm sure Charles was given the old " you are here to support the team and do what the team needs to win" speech.
Then probably told, "give it a year, if you are better than Vettel, you can have your chance the following year".
Just my guess...

 

Certainly a possibility

 

How long before we hear ''ehhh Sebastian ,Charles eeesa faster thanaa you'' ?

 

If Charles out qualifies him then what lol. Or is simply faster...then what. Restraining a faster Charles is not a good policy. Vettel now needs to fight for his position.

 

Seb gets the Kimi treatment ..poetic justice

 

Having a goal of only two wins while driving a Ferrari seems to be the opposite of ambitious . . . IMO.

 

Kimi was kept too long and the team didnt grow with him around. Im glad they finally hired a distinct talent to move forward. Next up is to replace Arrive. He has no business running the team at all and is not at all a good solution for a manager. He should have been replaced as well.

I posted the difference between what Arrive says and what Mercedes do to be consistent winners and evolve as the season changes.

 

The problem with pre-season optimistic statements is that they could be quoted back at the end of the year and make their author look foolish too.

 

I agree entirely.
I think Arrivabene is one of the reasons for Ferrari's failure to win the title in 2018.

 

+1

 

Mario Andretti is unsure if Ferrari was correct with its timing of Charles Leclerc's promotion.

and

No surprise over Arrivabene sacking

https://www.f1today.net/en/news/f1/-244313/andretti-questions-timing-of-leclerc-promotion

 

It's always good to read Mario's take on things. He a perspective based on experiences most of us can only dream of.

 

Extremely reasonable opinion by Andretti....

 

Mario basically said the Leclerc is too good and will be fighting Vettel.

 

That's how I read it too. "Two number one drivers never works."

 

No team orders for the first five or six races. Then afterwards on a case by case basis depending on what the competition is doing. Let’s see what Ferrari have here-I’m excited.

 

I say, Leclerc plays support role to Vettel...just for 2019... with the whole Binotto in all issue going on. Vettel wants 5. All the kid needs to do is bring the car home in 3rd place....or 2nd if he gets past Lewis which would be remarkable.

 

I'd agree and Arrivabene seemed to indicate Leclerc would be a de facto #2. Has Binotto weighed in on the matter?

 

No, thank you! I'll have absolutely no hopes for any more Formula One with Vettel at the helm.

 

I would not be surprised at all if Ferrari do not renew Vettel's contract at the end of 2019.
I see the quick promotion of Leclerc to the Scuderia, as an early warning of that.
Of course, Leclerc will have to prove himself this year, but I feel the decision has already been taken not to keep Vettel beyond this season.

 

https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/01/11/rivola-be-sure-charles-will-try-to-win-right-away/amp/

 

Charles Leclercs manager Nicolas Todt has an interview about the young driver. [translated]

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