On the eve of his home Grand Prix and the day after extending his contract with Ferrari, Charles Leclerc was obviously expected by the media and he expressed his joy.
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Just hours before F1’s return to Monaco, two weeks later than usual due to the calendar reshuffle, Charles Leclerc formalized his long-term commitment with the Scuderia.
A decision that seemed natural given the deep bond between the Monegasque and Ferrari, but which is also based on a strong conviction: the trust placed in Frédéric Vasseur.
Unconditional and Reciprocal Love
Present in the Ferrari ecosystem since his integration into the Ferrari Driver Academy, Leclerc maintains a unique relationship with the Prancing Horse: “It has always been very clear to me. I love this team and it loves me back.”
The driver reminds that he has been linked to Ferrari for a decade: “I have spent eight years with the team in Formula 1, ten years if you count the academy. They were among the first to believe in me and help me reach the level I am at today.”
But beyond emotional attachment, it is the direction taken by the Scuderia that convinced Leclerc to continue the adventure. And at the center of this trust is Frédéric Vasseur.
“More importantly, I believe in this project,” he states with determination. “With Fred, we have a very good relationship and I firmly believe that he is the right person to bring Ferrari back to the top. “
Common Vision
The Monegasque believes that the team is engaged in a profound transformation that is gradually beginning to bear fruit, even if the results do not yet fully reflect the group’s ambitions.
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“We are having a good start to the season, even if it’s not as good as we want,” he qualifies. “We want to fight for the championship. There have been many good developments on the car. We also know precisely where our weaknesses lie.”
According to him, the main weakness today remains the Ferrari power unit: “Our lack is mainly at the engine level. We have something coming and we hope that it will finally allow us to reach the level we are aiming for.”
When it comes to explaining his extension, Leclerc once again returns to the central role played by Vasseur: “It’s mainly thanks to Fred. I feel totally in tune with his vision and I truly believe in him.”
In Osmosis
The Monegasque reminds that the current season marks the first single-seater designed entirely under the direction of Vasseur, accompanied by his deputy Jérôme D’Ambrosio and the French engineer Loïc Serra.
For Leclerc, the entire organization is now moving forward with a coherent and long-term strategy: “We all work with a long-term vision. Not too long-term either, because we want to win as quickly as possible.”
But this collective vision fuels his conviction that Ferrari can return to the top: “That’s what made me believe in this project more than ever.”
At 28, Charles Leclerc continues his lifelong gamble: to become world champion with Ferrari. A dream that has accompanied him since his arrival at the Maranello academy and which he now hopes to realize under the direction of Frédéric Vasseur.
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