Vasseur: Leclerc 'coping better' than Vettel
Charles Leclerc's former boss says he is surprised how quickly the 21-year-old has put serious pressure on Ferrari number 1 Sebastian Vettel.
Last year, Frederic Vasseur was Leclerc's first Formula 1 team boss, when the Monaco-born driver made his debut for Sauber.
"I did not expect that Charles would settle in at Ferrari so quickly," Vasseur, still in charge of the team now known as Alfa Romeo, told the French broadcaster Canal Plus.
"Everything seems a bit more difficult for Vettel. Both of them are under pressure from Mercedes but Leclerc is coping with it better," he added.
Many are now predicting that it is only a matter of time before Leclerc takes over as Ferrari's top driver.
"Charles had a great first half of the season," Vasseur continued. "Of course, that was not the case at every race, but I'm not talking about his crash in Germany.
"Last weekend also ended badly for both of the Mercedes drivers," he said. "The last two corners were very slippery and many made mistakes.
"But from the beginning of the weekend he (Leclerc) looked fast enough even to be on pole, and he also performed strongly in the three or four grands prix before it."
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That is very good Charles is a good boy .But if Vettel is leaving i wish that they can get Max or Ricardo then they will be world class team . i have a good source Hamilton hoping i will get a call from Ferrari he as been waiting 2 years they will never have that one
Charles Leclerc is doing well. i'm sure he will be world champion long before he leaves f1 behind. Vettel deserves what he gets. he should never under estimate any of the other f1 drivers. as they say anything can happen.
Pretty much everybody deserves what they get.
What I don't understand is your argument that Vettel underestimates other F-1 drivers.
Could you cite some evidence to support your claim?
Simon - I said he should not under estimate any of drivers. and it's not a argument.. and regards to Vettel deserving what he gets then rember what he did to Mark Webber.
I remember, vaguely, what he did. They both drove well and Sebastian got titles and Webber a very strong 2nd.
But this does tell a lot about you, and a number of other posters here. Vettel, you imply was unfair (mean-spirited?) to Webber for beating him, but then he was a pussy for being beaten by Ricciardo, and ran away.
Would he have been a better man if he lost to Webber?
"but then he was a pussy for being beaten by Ricciardo, and ran away." something I never thought you'd understand!
Ho yes i love the guy l never underestimate vettial look last week start from the back and got 2 place he looked very happy for a long time i just hope as got his mojo back for this week end then have a good rest then go for it
Leclerc needs to win at least 2 races before he is considered better than Seb and no one at Ferrari. He still needs to learn a few things before he becomes great and on the way to the top he is going to make a few errors as well . If he is still in F1 in the next 10 years he will need to win at least 5 races every year to be on the par with Seb's record and that might be a big challenge as will be racing against Verstappen and a few others gifted new generation F1drivers.Ferrari needs to improve a few aspects of their new cars so they can challenge Mercedes as well as Red Bull from the beginning of the next season so their drivers are able to win races.Vettel showed us in German GP how to overcome adversity and demonstrated his driving skills which critics try to deny. I trust he will continue to go forward and achieve a few victories before the end of the season.
CHARLES LECLERC CLEARLY FAILS EVERY TEST BY FIRE MEANING REAL RACING SITUATIONS HE IS PLACED IN, HE CAN NOT DELIVER EVEN MEDIOCRE RESULTS. YES HE IS FAST BUT HE CAN NOT FINISH A RACE, YOU HAVE TO FINISH TO WIN. GET REAL!!
Chucky Le clercy will be an F1 legend by the time he leaves he sport.
Simon if you can only bitch about Vettel then carry on.. Vettel broke the rules by not obeying a team order. and mark webber did not run away from any one. have a nice day....
Amaya, Fuck off! I don't bitch about anyone. I am just exposing arseholes like yourself. If you don't like it stop reading my posts. (Vettel broke the "team order rule" only once when he overtook Webber who was slower. The point, in any case was moot - Webber was safe to be a runner up and nowhere near to win the title. So!?)
Simon - All I can say to you is DO ONE. if anyone is a a*** hole it's definitely you. all you seem to do is make childish remarks to other people's comments. grow up and make your own comments. and yes stop replying to my comments. and don't have a nice day.
By the way, are you having difficulty in understanding English?
What is that Webber not running away from anyone all about?
ok the, yes I thought you'd miss the point! So, you are Pam, in man's clothes.