Over the years, we have often heard plenty of criticism—most of it unjustified—directed at Charles Leclerc during his time at Ferrari. This time, however, the criticism has come from a former driver who also raced in the colors of the Prancing Horse, delivering a strong attack against the Monegasque, claiming that if he had lived in Enzo Ferrari’s era, he would not even have “crossed the gates of Maranello.”
Arturo Merzario spoke to Automoto.it, launching a fierce attack on the Monte Carlo-born driver. It was an unrestrained criticism that appears almost unjustified, considering that there has never been any direct relationship between the two. It is not the first time that the man who once carried the Italian team on his shoulders and guided it through difficult moments has been targeted. Below are all the venomous remarks made by the former Italian driver.
Merzario: “Enzo wouldn’t have even accepted him as a customer”
“Leclerc ended up occupying a place at Ferrari that, at the time, he did not deserve. He is a very good driver, like many others. If you put their names in a hat and pick one, one is worth as much as the other. He is not special. People boast about the fact that he is ahead of a seven-time world champion like Lewis Hamilton, when in reality Lewis has backed off because he does not feel integrated into the team. Why should he ever give 110% in these circumstances? If Enzo Ferrari had been there, he wouldn’t have even crossed the gates of Maranello. I am sure of it. He wouldn’t have accepted him even as a customer.”
It is incredible how Arturo Merzario’s words reveal what appears to be pure and unjustified hostility toward Leclerc. Enzo Ferrari’s son, Piero Ferrari, personally wanted the #16 by his side during the FIA end-of-year awards ceremony, and it is well known that he is a great admirer of him.
Anyone who truly understands Formula 1 would never allow themselves to make statements like these. Of course, we know that Leclerc is not a perfect driver, but it is no coincidence that many consider him capable of matching Max Verstappen in the right car.
And that is precisely the point: the right car. Ferrari has never really given the Monegasque the opportunity to fully demonstrate the extent of his talent. We have seen constant flashes of brilliance even when he was forced to drive extremely difficult cars, yet still managed to place himself among the frontrunners.
The limited number of victories is not a sign of a lack of speed or ability, but rather the result of an unfortunate career path in Formula 1. The 2026 season will likely be his final year in red if the new car is not championship-worthy. Charles Leclerc can no longer afford to wait and will inevitably be forced to look elsewhere. Three teams are reportedly interested in him.
Arturo Merzario’s words simply do not make sense. And, with a touch of irony, it is worth recalling the results achieved by the former Ferrari driver during his Formula 1 career: 57 Grands Prix, 0 pole positions, 0 podiums, 0 victories, and 11 points.
The history of Ferrari is built on both engineering excellence and the passionate, often polarizing opinions of those who have lived within its world. While Merzario’s harsh words reflect a nostalgia for a more ruthless era of the Scuderia, the modern reality is that Charles Leclerc remains the heartbeat of Maranello. Whether he is “special” enough to lead the team back to the summit of Formula 1 will be decided on the track, where the only thing that truly matters is the trophy cabinet—not the gates of the past.
