Charles Leclerc is too nice, in case that wasn’t already clear. Once again highlighting this side of Charles Leclerc’s character is Robert Kubica, former F1 driver and current Ferrari AF Corse driver competing in the WEC category. During Giorgio Terruzzi’s podcast, the Polish driver shared a few thoughts, including those on the personality of Ferrari’s number 16.
Robert Kubica was asked who he would choose for his ideal team. “I’d definitely want Adrian Newey as engineer and Max Verstappen. It’s tough to choose, maybe Leclerc but… he’s too nice.” At this point, the Polish driver seems to hesitate before selecting the Ferrari driver precisely because of this aspect of his character.
Charles Leclerc’s kindness is a virtue, although…
“Too nice — it’s a good trait, on a human level. Even on track he’s too nice, in the sense that yes, when it’s time to attack, he does, but then outside the car he’s really kind. He says something because he’s angry, but then immediately walks it back. Maybe also because they pull his ears (surely referring to the press office).”
Essentially, Robert Kubica backtracks on the doubt he initially raises, but he still brings up a fairly undeniable point — perhaps two. The first is that the Monegasque clearly doesn’t have a very assertive approach, and this might hurt him, because he’s always the one apologizing, always playing the nice guy.
The second point concerns how everything driver number 16 says seems excessively filtered by what the press office demands. Robert Kubica, as a former driver, knows a thing or two about that, and saying “they pull his ears” is certainly confirmation that, in the heat of the moment, Charles Leclerc lets his real thoughts slip out, but then, out of excessive niceness, tends to retract them.
When all is said and done, it remains a virtue. But perhaps, deep down, it’s also a slight flaw.
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