Charles Leclerc backs Ferrari chief over policy which could affect title chances

17 February 2023 , 22:55

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Charles Leclerc will hope to be in a closer title fight this year (Image: Scuderia Ferrari)

Charles Leclerc has backed his new boss over the policy of not choosing a number one driver for the 2023 season.

The Monegasque will again be partnered by Carlos Sainz at the Italian team this year. Leclerc is seen as the shining star at Ferrari due to the trust placed in him from such a young age, but his Spanish team-mate has proven that he can provide some real value as well.

Sainz finished 62 points behind Leclerc last year but still managed a race win and nine other podiums despite suffering from some terrible luck – six DNFs due to reliability problems and being taken out by other drivers. Plus, he narrowly got the better of his team-mate in 2021, their first season together.

With that intra-team battle tied at one apiece, each competitor will want to get the better of the other – but new team principal Frederic Vasseur will be making sure they both know that the team's interest will need to come before their own.

With that in mind, the Frenchman has already discussed the "clear situation" with his racers. "We have two very good drivers and they are both able to do the job. We will have the capacity to provide them with exactly the same car, structure and support," he said at his first press conference.

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"The target is to win with Ferrari and for Ferrari. There will be no number one and number two. But if at one stage we have to take action, I will take action and it doesn't matter if it is for one driver or the other."

New team principal Frederic Vasseur has already laid down the law to Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari)

Speaking at the team's launch event earlier this week, Leclerc lent his full support to that plan. He said: "I agree with this philosophy. It's important for Carlos and I to be fully motivated and do the best possible job at the start of the season and we have to push each other to perform at our best.

"At one point in the season, if one driver is clearly in contention to win the championship, I'm sure the team will do everything possible to ensure that the driver fighting for the title does so in the best possible conditions.

"The relationship has always been very good. We get along very well, we share a lot of passions also off the track like golf, padel, chess, we have spent a lot of time together and we have a good relationship. Of course, we are very competitive but the competitiveness we have is very healthy."

Daniel Moxon