Vasseur on Leclerc: 'Sometimes better to calm down before you say something'
F1 News
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur has looked back on Ferrari's performance in the first half of the season. In an extensive interview with Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, he sees room for improvement in several aspects and also indicates that his drivers did not always get off scot-free in the first half of 2023 either.
'Ferrari can always improve'
Charles Leclerc drove the Ferrari SF-23 to the podium three times until the summer break. He thus occupies fifth place in the world championship. Teammate Carlos Sainz picked up 92 points in the first 12 races and is currently seventh in the standings. Competing for victories is not yet in the cards for the Maranello-based team. Vasseur says Ferrari can do better than they are currently showing:"There is always room for improvement, both as a team and as drivers."
Vasseur sees that Leclerc had a disappointing start to the season. The Monegasque wrote off his car several times in the first few Grand Prix weekends of this season. The team boss offers an explanation for this: "Charles [Leclerc] did not start this season as expected and at the beginning he pushed more than he should have. Now, however, he seems to have improved on that."
'Leclerc has an implusive character'
In addition, Vasseur also sees that Leclerc sometimes makes adrenaline-fuelled statements. The team boss admits that he sometimes has his reservations about that, and explains why he thinks that is: "Leclerc has an impulsive character. If something doesn't go well, he doesn't hold back either. However, for his own sake and that of the team, it is sometimes better to calm down before he says something. In the heat of the moment, you don't have all the information to make a defintive judgement. For an open microphone, it is sometimes better to take your time".