Leclerc “very impressed” by Vasseur’s start as Ferrari F1 boss
Charles Leclerc says he has been “very impressed” by Fred Vasseur’s start as Ferrari Formula 1 team boss, following the Frenchman’s off-season move from Alfa Romeo.
Vasseur started work as Ferrari team principal in early January after the Scuderia parted ways with former team boss and long-time engine engineer Mattia Binotto at the end of its promising but ultimately disappointing 2022 campaign.
The move reunited Leclerc and Vasseur after the former made his F1 debut with Alfa in 2018, having also raced for Vasseur’s ART Grand Prix junior team in GP3 in 2016 – winning that championship as a rookie.
“I was very impressed by how well he introduced himself in the team,” Leclerc said of his new team boss.
“Ferrari is very different to whatever we are used to before. Ferrari is huge. And once he got here, he understood extremely well the way Ferrari works from the first few days.
“He’s very clear in what he wants and he’s extremely good at putting the people in the right mindset and in the right ambiance to give their best. And this is very important.
“So, that’s what he brings to Ferrari and I’m sure it will be a good thing.”
Leclerc was speaking at Ferrari’s highly praised 2023 team launch, where he completed the first shakedown laps of the SF-23 before handing over to team-mate Carlos Sainz.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
Photo by: Ferrari
After undertaking his two tours of Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit on demonstration Pirelli tyres in front of a grandstand full of fans, Leclerc faced the media.
He was asked about his contract status with Ferrari, with his current deal running until the end of 2024.
But Leclerc insisted with two full seasons still remaining on that agreement, it is currently too early to even discuss the possibility of an extension or consider any decision about finding a new F1 drive elsewhere.
A new deal ahead of 2025 would be an interesting time for Leclerc with or without a move away from Ferrari, as Mercedes is yet to agree a long-term new deal with Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris’s contract with McLaren runs out at the same time and Audi will be about to enter as a works operation following its buyout of the Sauber-run Alfa squad.
“Speaking about my renewal in Ferrari, it’s not something that I’ve been particularly thinking [about] already,” Leclerc explained.
“It’s still a long way to go – two years. I will, of course, do my best.
“Not for the negotiations, but for myself and for the team. And then I will of course… you will know, for sure, when talks start. But it’s not the time yet.”
Related video
Mercedes F1 could regret letting de Vries go, says Shovlin
Grand prix racing’s forgotten year of change
F1 Monaco GP: Sainz tops red-flagged FP1 as Albon crash ends session early
F1 Monaco GP: Sainz tops red-flagged FP1 as Albon crash ends session early F1 Monaco GP: Sainz tops red-flagged FP1 as Albon crash ends session early
Alonso vows to "attack more than any other weekend" for F1 Monaco GP
Alonso vows to "attack more than any other weekend" for F1 Monaco GP Alonso vows to "attack more than any other weekend" for F1 Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris Leclerc handed F1 Monaco GP grid penalty for impeding Norris
Vasseur: Ferrari F1 will bring updates to “every single race”
Vasseur: Ferrari F1 will bring updates to “every single race” Vasseur: Ferrari F1 will bring updates to “every single race”
Why Ferrari is struggling and how it can turn its F1 fortunes around
Why Ferrari is struggling and how it can turn its F1 fortunes around Why Ferrari is struggling and how it can turn its F1 fortunes around
Alonso: High-adrenaline qualifying shows why Monaco must stay on F1 calendar
Alonso: High-adrenaline qualifying shows why Monaco must stay on F1 calendar Alonso: High-adrenaline qualifying shows why Monaco must stay on F1 calendar
Gasly: Alpine closer to the pace in Monaco than any F1 race in 2023
Gasly: Alpine closer to the pace in Monaco than any F1 race in 2023 Gasly: Alpine closer to the pace in Monaco than any F1 race in 2023
Why visceral trackside experience proves Monaco's F1 worth
Why visceral trackside experience proves Monaco's F1 worth Why visceral trackside experience proves Monaco's F1 worth
Rowland replaced by Mehri at Mahindra for Formula E Jakarta
Rowland replaced by Mehri at Mahindra for Formula E Jakarta Rowland replaced by Mehri at Mahindra for Formula E Jakarta
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks? Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.