Arturo Merzario doesn’t hold back in his criticisms. According to the former Ferrari F1 driver, if Enzo Ferrari were still in charge, Charles Leclerc might never have set foot in Maranello.
Charles Leclerc is perhaps the most beloved and debated driver in modern Formula 1. He is both a symbol and a target. In a recent interview with AutoMoto, Arturo Merzario, a former Ferrari F1 driver, spoke bluntly: “Leclerc has occupied a position at Ferrari that, at the time, was not really his to take.” Arturo Merzario believes the Monegasque driver is often overrated. “He’s a very good driver, as there are many. If you put all the names in a hat and pick one, they’re all roughly equal. He’s not exceptional.”
Longstanding criticism
This critique is not new. For years, Charles Leclerc has been described as “not dominant enough,” “not decisive,” “not a Verstappen.” Some argue he was praised too early, while others claim he has been overly protected. Yet few drivers have borne the pressure of driving for Ferrari in a winless era as heavily as he has.
Harsh words
Arturo Merzario also commented on Charles Leclerc’s comparison with Lewis Hamilton, whom he has beaten on track: “Anyone who boasts about being ahead of a seven-time world champion forgets that Lewis had already let go,” he said. According to Merzario, Lewis Hamilton would never have truly felt integrated. “Why would he give 110% under these circumstances?”
Then come Arturo Merzario’s strongest remarks, invoking Enzo Ferrari himself: “If Enzo Ferrari were still around, Charles Leclerc would never have even entered the gates of Maranello. I’m sure of it. He wouldn’t have been accepted even as a client.”
The dream of a “predestined” driver
Charles Leclerc arrived in Formula 1 in 2018 as just a young teenager. Polite, quiet, fast. He joined Ferrari in 2019 after his stint with Sauber and immediately impressed, claiming poles and engaging in fierce battles on track. From that moment, however, his career became a test of endurance. Imperfect cars, poor strategies. Mistakes of his own, yes, but also systemic errors. Through it all, Charles Leclerc learned to lose, to absorb setbacks, and to remain loyal to a team that has often failed to fully reward him.
This is where the paradox arises. The more Charles Leclerc matures, the more he is questioned. Because he doesn’t shout, he doesn’t smash the pit wall, he doesn’t throw blame. In a world that celebrates aggressive leaders, Charles represents a different style of leadership. Today, he is no longer the naive “predestined” driver; he is a racer who reads the race, manages pressure, and handles frustration without breaking. He has learned not to be consumed by Ferrari—a fate that in the past has destroyed even great names. He is a complete driver, forged through sporting pain, and perhaps that is precisely what makes him ready.
Arturo Merzario’s words reignite the debate
Arturo Merzario’s remarks have reopened the discussion about Charles Leclerc. But motorsport has changed, and Charles is very much a product of this new era. Whether he will become a world champion or not is something only time will tell.
“Ultimately, while Arturo Merzario’s nostalgia for the iron-fisted era of Enzo Ferrari offers a harsh perspective on the modern game, Charles Leclerc’s ability to lead the Scuderia through its most turbulent decade suggests that his quiet resilience might be exactly what the new generation of racing requires.”
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