The Canadian Grand Prix should function a kind of affirmation for Ferrari. The Maranello group is coming off two consecutive podiums, achieved due to the same old expertise of Charles Leclerc and likewise a little bit of luck as a result of Security Automotive on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The Monegasque driver has by no means had a fantastic relationship with Woman Luck, objectively talking, so it’s honest sufficient that he sometimes advantages from some surprising assist.
In Montreal, the place the paddock is already buzzing for the race weekend, there are a number of very attention-grabbing matters circulating. Nearly all of them, in actual fact, 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 current days, varied roughly dependable rumors have advised that he’ll depart Maranello on the finish of the 2025 Formulation 1 championship.
Admittedly, the present season has not been successful up to now: over the winter, partly due to the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, there was speak 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 typically been the case for almost 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 accordance with the constructors’ standings, has total been the second-best automotive 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 sure insurmountable distance, as a result of we aren’t right here to feed anybody false hopes — others maintain that with the same old recycled proclamations.
Returning to the extra urgent issues, Ferrari is in a tough second: this isn’t information, however it appeared that the Frederic Vasseur strategy was working — till actuality struck once more on this first a part of the 2025 Formulation 1 marketing campaign. Nevertheless, in contrast to what we noticed on the finish of Mattia Binotto’s tenure in 2022, the sensation now’s 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 stories recommend 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 drugs, having had, in virtually seven years, solely a handful of Grands Prix with a automotive worthy of F1.
Charles Leclerc doesn’t wish 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 gives or related issues. He emphasised that the one certainty was his love for Ferrari and said that, no matter what the long run may maintain, his aim remained to win with the group in crimson. The 27-year-old expressed his need to carry Ferrari again to the highest and affirmed that he would give all the things he needed to make it occur with himself behind the wheel.
This concern is inevitably linked to the Frederic Vasseur state of affairs. Right here too, the Monegasque speaks as a group participant, as a frontrunner, and firmly dismisses the current rumors, particularly since there’s an vital weekend to organize 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 observe. In accordance with him, solely outcomes might silence sure rumors within the brief 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 all the time believed in him, simply as he believed in Fred Vasseur. Charles Leclerc concluded by stating that the Ferrari group boss had all the things wanted to carry the Italian aspect again to the highest, and expressed hope that they may obtain that aim collectively.