The Canadian Grand Prix should function a kind of affirmation for Ferrari. The Maranello group is coming off two consecutive podiums, achieved because of the same old expertise of Charles Leclerc and likewise a little bit of luck as a result of Security Automobile on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The Monegasque driver has by no means had an awesome relationship with Woman Luck, objectively talking, so it’s truthful sufficient that he sometimes advantages from some sudden assist.
In Montreal, the place the paddock is already buzzing for the race weekend, there are a number of very attention-grabbing subjects circulating. Nearly all of them, the truth is, concern the Italian group, notably the temper of the 2 drivers and the way forward for Frederic Vasseur, the group principal whose contract expires on the finish of this season. In latest days, numerous roughly dependable rumors have steered that he’ll go away Maranello on the finish of the 2025 System 1 championship.
Admittedly, the present season has not been a hit thus far: over the winter, partly because of the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, there was discuss of world titles, of an SF-25 single-seater able to preventing McLaren for the championship. Then, on the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, as sadly has usually been the case for practically twenty years, got here the icy chilly bathe for the Ferrari followers and everybody at Maranello.
Charles Leclerc’s final two performances have sparked a glimmer of hope: the SF-25, in keeping with the constructors’ standings, has general been the second-best automobile in F1 after the primary 9 races. And if the numbers don’t lie, we should additionally say that the factors hole to McLaren, the undisputed chief, is 197. An unlimited and certain insurmountable distance, as a result of we aren’t right here to feed anybody false hopes — others handle that with the same old recycled proclamations.
Returning to the extra urgent issues, Ferrari is in a troublesome second: this isn’t information, but it surely appeared that the Frederic Vasseur strategy was working — till actuality struck once more on this first a part of the 2025 System 1 marketing campaign. Nevertheless, not like what we noticed on the finish of Mattia Binotto’s tenure in 2022, the sensation now could be that the assorted members of the group are attempting to rally round their group principal.
However it’s not solely Frederic Vasseur who’s on the middle of paddock rumors: some studies counsel that Charles Leclerc himself is bored with not profitable something with Ferrari, and his unconditional love — which has objectively by no means been in query — appears to be wavering. That will be comprehensible, since a driver of his expertise retains having to swallow bitter capsules, having had, in virtually seven years, solely a handful of Grands Prix with a automobile worthy of F1.
Charles Leclerc doesn’t need to hear any of it, and when requested concerning the matter, as broadly anticipated, he reiterated the factors expressed earlier. The Monegasque made it clear that he wouldn’t touch upon rumors or hypothesis concerning provides or related issues. He emphasised that the one certainty was his love for Ferrari and acknowledged that, no matter what the long run may maintain, his objective remained to win with the group in pink. The 27-year-old expressed his want to convey Ferrari again to the highest and affirmed that he would give all the pieces he needed to make it occur with himself behind the wheel.
This difficulty is inevitably linked to the Frederic Vasseur scenario. Right here too, the Monegasque speaks as a group participant, as a frontrunner, and firmly dismisses the latest rumors, particularly since there’s an vital weekend to arrange for — one which should affirm the “good” issues seen lately.
Charles Leclerc famous that there have been rumors about Frederic Vasseur which the group consciously selected to disregard. He burdened that their focus wanted to stay on what actually mattered: efficiency on the monitor. In line with him, solely outcomes might silence sure rumors within the quick time period. The Monegasque driver added that he had nothing additional to say, reiterating his full confidence within the group and highlighting that the French supervisor had at all times believed in him, simply as he believed in Fred Vasseur. Charles Leclerc concluded by stating that the Ferrari group boss had all the pieces wanted to convey the Italian aspect again to the highest, and expressed hope that they might obtain that objective collectively.