The start of the 2023 Formula One season is proving to be one of the most disappointing ever for Scuderia Ferrari. After three races, the Maranello team has accumulated a meager total of zero podiums and only 26 points in the Constructors’ standings, slipping in the world hierarchy from second place in 2022 to fourth, behind Red Bull as well as Aston Martin and Mercedes.
The situation in Maranello, as it should be, is not the most optimistic. Especially considering that by continuing at this rate, the Italian side could lose its main driver: Charles Leclerc, who will hardly renew his contract (expiring in 2024) without performance guarantees. The Monegasque, eager to fight for the Formula One title, has recently appeared annoyed and disappointed by the lack of competitiveness of the SF-23 single-seater. This was also seen at the start of the Australian Grand Prix, where he made a frustrating mistake.
Jean Todt’s analysis
That Charles Leclerc could decide to leave Scuderia Ferrari to move to a team capable of feeding his world championship ambitions is a common thought. French motor racing executive Jean Todt, former Ferrari team principal, didn’t say it explicitly, nor can you read it between the lines. But the Frenchman’s words – which confirm the driver’s absolute value – make one reflect and “consolidate” the Monegasque’s perplexities regarding his future.
Below is the analysis by the former boss of the Maranello team for the Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport: “He’s fast and makes very few mistakes. He’s a fighter like Michael Schumacher. On a human level I know him too little, the common point between them is that they are extremely fast and they drive the best car in a top team. This certainly helps. In Formula 1 there are very good drivers and then a very small group of amazing ones of which Charles Leclerc is part. Charles could be like Verstappen, if he had the chance…”.
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Indeed it’s exactly that ′′ he had the chance ′′ that unfortunately makes all the difference in the world.
