It is said that for a football team to win, it must have an incredibly strong vertical axis on which to build the rest of the squad. An imaginary pillar formed by the goalkeeper, central defender, playmaker, and striker, all entrusted to the capable hands of a coach. This schema, with all its necessary distinctions, can be applied to Formula 1 in general, and particularly to Ferrari.
The masterminds working diligently behind the scenes to define this model are John Elkann and Benedetto Vigna, who have identified Frédéric Vasseur as the trainer responsible for creating the perfect harmony to make it all work. The Frenchman, with calmness and a confident aim to achieve the goal, is forming that essential axis we mentioned at the outset.
The pursuit of top technical figures continues (the hiring of Loic Serra seems imminent), as does the internal restructuring with the promotion of Diego Ioverno, who took Laurent Mekies’ position, and the stabilization of the strategic department under Ravin Jain’s charge. At the pinnacle of this diverse line of professionals, harmonized by Fred Vasseur, is the striker. The number nine, the one who scores and wins games.
For Ferrari, this role is firmly held by Charles Leclerc. It is no coincidence that the extension of his contract is a priority, which is reaching imminent agreements. Charles is a cornerstone on which Fred Vasseur plans to build. The Monegasque’s current contract expires at the end of the 2024 Formula One campaign, and not counting on his services beyond 2025 is not even being contemplated.
According to information gathered by the editorial team of FUnoanalisitecnica, confirmed by news from France yesterday, Charles Leclerc has already signed the renewal with Ferrari. A 2+3 contract that can be exercised after the expiration of the current one. This is the latest information, which awaits official confirmation from both parties, beyond the rumors from other sources.
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Renewing Charles Leclerc is one of the key pieces of Ferrari’s medium-term future. The trust the Maranello team places in the driver is crucial to creating an atmosphere of tranquility, essential for performing at their best and making a difference in an ultra-competitive sport.
For this to happen, the trust must be mutual, bidirectional. In essence, Charles must also have confidence in the Maranello team’s ability to create something great to pursue the elusive World Championship. Fred Vasseur seems to be the catalyst of hope, to which Charles Leclerc cannot remain indifferent.
“Difficult moments are there for everyone, except for Red Bull,” the Monegasque said in an interview for Belgian broadcaster RTBF. “It’s up to us to work hard. We’re focused on the remaining races. We know that the car doesn’t allow us to replicate last year’s results. We must maximize the potential of the car with the current package, avoid making small mistakes on strategy, traffic management, and other aspects.”
A year of anticipation is needed to create the right conditions for excellence. “I’ve always been a driver and a person who works more with the heart than with reason,” reiterated the former Sauber driver, before embarking on yet another – the umpteenth – act of love for his team: “I love Ferrari. My career goal is to become a world champion with this team and take it to the top. It hasn’t been easy, there are ups and downs. I have full confidence in Fred Vasseur; he knows exactly where he wants to go and what he will do to get there. We discuss a lot together to achieve our goals. He gives me confidence.”
The bolded part is telling and reveals more than a thousand analyses of what the driver is seeking: a winning package that goes beyond the technical sphere alone. Red Bull teaches it, Mercedes has explained it in past years: to win World Championships, perfection is needed in every aspect, and it is also essential to feel like a key figure in the project. Charles has realized that he can truly be that finisher we mentioned at the beginning.
This may involve the sacrifice of Carlos Sainz or any other driver who partners with Charles Leclerc. It is not a coincidence, therefore, that despite considering Ferrari the top option in case of contract renewal, the Spanish driver has instructed his representatives to explore the market for advantageous opportunities that would take him away from Maranello.
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