Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has clearly positioned himself on the question of who is number one at Ferrari, thereby strengthening Scuderia boss John Elkann, who had previously placed Carlos Sainz somewhat surprisingly behind Charles Leclerc.
Looking at the World Championship points, it is absolutely clear who is currently ahead at Ferrari in Formula 1: second-placed Charles Leclerc (219) is 32 points ahead of his team-mate Carlos Sainz (187) in fifth place in the drivers’ standings. For John Elkann, the CEO of the Scuderia, Leclerc is the clear number one, as he recently explained in an interview with the Italian “Gazzetta dello Sport” and said not a word about Sainz.
The 1996 world champion Damon Hill does not want to accept that this approach by the Ferrari boss was insensitive, as some critics said. Elkann is just right for the Brit. “The thing is, looking at pure pace, Charles Leclerc is the leader,” Hill said on the F1 Nation Podcast.
“Carlos has done a good job so far, but he’s never dominated Leclerc, has he?” added the 62-year-old, adding: “A bit like Sergio Pérez [und Max Verstappen bei Red Bull, d.Red.].”
Hill: Sainz doesn’t overshadow Leclerc that easily
Together, Sainz and Leclerc are a “good team,” continued the long-time Formula 1 driver and then opponent of Michael Schumacher. “Carlos was really fast in Monza recently,” said Hill, “but he still has to get to another level to overshadow Charles.”
Leclerc simply has the better cards and, above all, arguments in the fight for the world title. “And if you want to go into a duel with Max Verstappen and Red Bull, then you just have to send your best man forward,” Hill defended Scuderia’s approach: “It can happen that you sometimes hurt people’s feelings because there is so little time.” Elkann’s words were “hard but fair”.