Charles Leclerc will take a step up after Monaco win, says Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur
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Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was a happy man after winning his home Monaco Grand Prix on May 26.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MONTE CARLO – Ferrari expect Charles Leclerc to take a step up after finally celebrating a dream home win in Monaco on May 26, according to team boss Fred Vasseur.
The Italian team have won two of the eight Formula One races so far this season, with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz taking one each, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen winning five and McLaren’s Lando Norris the other.
“I think it was an important one,” Vasseur said after the victory.
“He had a kind of weight on the shoulders for years now about (not winning in) Monaco, sometimes he did small mistakes like in F2, sometimes he was unlucky like in F1...
“I think probably for his own self-confidence (it will be a boost), and Charles will do a step forward.”
Vasseur also predicted that there will be at least three teams fighting it out for the rest of the season.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was second in Monaco with Sainz, winner in Australia in March, finishing third. Norris was fourth, and Mercedes’ George Russell fifth.
“I think now we have at least three teams, but I think Mercedes is not that far away, and these teams are able to fight for the pole position and the win,” said Vasseur, referring to Ferrari and McLaren challenging Red Bull.
“It’s exciting and it will be, I hope, like this to the end of the season.”
As it stands, Verstappen leads Leclerc in the drivers’ standings by 31 points, while Norris is 25 points behind Leclerc.
In the constructors’ championship, Red Bull lead Ferrari and McLaren thanks largely to Verstappen’s victories.
But Leclerc has proved that he can be a threat.
He took pole position in Monaco, ending Verstappen’s record-equalling run of eight poles in a row, with Red Bull’s three-time world champion struggling with his car around the tight and bumpy track.
Vasseur believes that Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren could all have individual tracks that will suit each team better over the remaining 16 races and his drivers would have to seize their opportunities.
“Last year we lost far too many points into the season and this year we made a huge step forward,” the Frenchman said.
“We are much more opportunistic but the fight is tight.”
Red Bull won all but one race last campaign in their most dominant season, with Verstappen taking 19 victories of the 22. But the Dutch driver is already being pushed much harder this time.
“This is part of the improvement of the last six or seven months and we have to continue like this,” added Vasseur. REUTERS
