Fred Vasseur: "Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are a winning pair and at the center of Ferrari project"

Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has praised the team dynamic between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Ever since joining the Italian side as the new Team Principal back in January, the former Alfa Romeo-Sauber boss has promised the fans of the Scuderia a return to championship-winning form.

However, those hopes were dashed when the car didn’t live up to expectations, which became clear once the 2023 Ferrari F1 single-seater hit the track for the pre-season testing session at the Bahrain International Circuit. The SF-23 showed small signs of improvement at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, perhaps the first race where the car didn’t encounter issues and managed to keep up with its rivals.

Frederic Vasseur knows that the credit goes to the great teamwork, including the drivers. And it is on Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc that the Frenchman knows he must rely. In an interview for the Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera ahead of the weekend in Austria, the Team Principal answered questions regarding the driver duo.

“Carlos and Charles are a winning pair”
When he joined Ferrari, Fred Vasseur found Charles Leclerc (with whom he had worked at Sauber) and Carlos Sainz (whom he had wanted to contact years ago at Renault). Explaining that he didn’t choose one over the other, he said: “I am satisfied with Carlos; he is consistent and provides important technical feedback. With Charles, they form a winning pair. I believe he is highly underestimated.”

Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!

Regarding the drivers’ contracts, which expire in 2024, Frederic Vasseur knows he plays an important role in convincing both to stay. Especially with the Monegasque driver, “the best way is to give him a competitive car. He knows that every season is crucial for his career. He has a goal: to become world champion. And winning the title is also our objective.” – the French manager pointed out.

Not only Charles Leclerc: Fred Vasseur recognizes that his Maranello teammate is another key factor for the team to function. Therefore, “we must make both him and Carlos feel at the center of the project.”