Charles is with Vasseur: “It is forbidden to give up. Hamilton? It would be a stimulus, but with Sainz we are aligned. The piano? I have just composed two new songs. At home I always play and for hours, Vettel listens to my songs”
– Milan
To win you would need Harry Potter’s wand. Almost a year has passed since Charles Leclerc’s last triumph at the wheel of Ferrari, in that Austrian GP made exciting by the three overtakings on rival Max Verstappen, and the present tells a completely different story. The prowess of the Monegasque in qualifying can do nothing against the excessive power of Red Bull. The mood went on him and down like hands on the keyboard of his beloved piano, resulting in anger or frustration. But, on the eve of Montmelò, only the desire to work hard to get out of the tunnel and the hope of making it with the Reds emerge from the words of the Prancing Horse rider.
What can Leclerc do as a driver and as a leader to help Ferrari get through this difficult time?
“I must always give my best on the track and never give up. These are words that I keep repeating, because they are fundamental. As a leader, try to get the engineers to understand the weak points of the car and let them work to improve them. In these situations, it is It’s easy for a team to lose motivation, even if it’s not our case, but I have to be ready to re-motivate people if it happens. How? Putting the maximum effort into it and showing that you have the grit to go back up. It’s always worked so far.” .
What are the points in Fred Vasseur’s program that can help bring the team back to the top?
“First of all, he has a plan to strengthen the workforce by bringing new people into the team. It is important to listen to different points of view, linked to different experiences, for the evaluation of problems and developments to be made. The goal is to have a strong car in all conditions. Today our car is good in qualifying, in one flying lap, with new tires and in conditions that we know how to predict, but as soon as we get out of this window, we lose a lot compared to Red Bull, which instead goes strong in qualifying, in race, in the rain, in short, in all conditions. I would say that we have a “pointed” car, in the sense that the potential is peak, but as soon as you deviate a little, you lose too much performance”.
We spoke often with Elkann, both in difficult and in good times
Are there calls or messages of support from President John Elkann?
“We have always spoken frequently. We have often spoken, both in difficult and in good times, and the support has never been lacking”.
Do you and Sainz have the same idea about the machine’s problems and how to develop it to be ready in 2024?
“Yes, and this is very important. We make different demands on the balance of the car (set-up and aerodynamics; ed) which can change during the weekend. But in terms of development areas to work on for the future, we are very aligned”.
Do you miss last year’s battles with Verstappen, which you won in some cases?
“I miss fighting for victory, whether it’s against Max or against other opponents, it doesn’t matter. As I’ve often said and demonstrated, I just want to win. Second, third or fourth place doesn’t interest me. I’ll do everything to get back on the top step of the podium as soon as possible, with Ferrari”.
Is Adrian Newey the secret of Red Bull?
“I believe that the successes of a team never depend on just one person. There is the contribution of many who have worked well”.
Would you feel doubted if he arrived as team-mate Lewis Hamilton?
“These are market rumors. But, if it came, I wouldn’t feel questioned, on the contrary. Maybe it would also be an opportunity to show what I’m really worth. So cohabitation wouldn’t be viewed badly by me”.
Hamilton? That would be an extra incentive. But with Sainz we are aligned for the future
Will he race until he’s 40 like Fernando Alonso?
“I don’t know, it depends. If we win with Ferrari for ten years, then I could be a driver even up to 60… (laughs; ed). In reality, it also depends on how my everyday life goes on, given that there are many races on the calendar and the commitment is considerable. But I won’t stop soon because I love racing and I know how lucky I am to do it. I may not make it to 42, like Fernando, but I certainly still have several seasons to go.” .
Did you ever hear from Sebastian Vettel after his retirement?
“He sent me a message on his cell phone saying he was at home, he was listening to my music and he liked it so much. I thank him. But other than that, we haven’t spoken.”
What was it like meeting Brad Pitt? Will he star in his next F1 film like Hamilton looks like he might?
“They didn’t tell me anything… but meeting him was nice. We took a car ride together on the Austin circuit, and he seemed enthusiastic, he was preparing ideas for the film. I think it will be a truly realistic F1 film, something never seen before”.
Your favorite actors? Long break.
“Many actually. But as a child I was crazy about Harry Potter, I’ve always liked Daniel Radcliffe in that role of the wizard, he made a generation of children dream. So I choose him”.
And the sportsmen from other disciplines that you most admire or that you met and liked?
“I like Rafa Nadal, for what he has achieved in tennis and for the fact that he has remained a simple person, it was enough for me to just know him to understand him. Then I am a friend of Fabio Quartararo and Valentino Rossi”.
Who are the characters in history, politics or art that most fascinate you?
“I think of music as an art form, I admire composers like Ludovico Einaudi and Hans Zimmer, I also like Basquiat’s painting”.
Pizza is her favorite food, but which pizza?
“Margherita with raw”.
Are you composing other pieces of music?
“I play as soon as I’m home in Montecarlo. Three days ago I sat down at the piano and came up with something I liked. My songs are always born like this. I can read music, but I’m really slow, so I never do it. Instead I let myself be carried away by the notes. I go on for two or three hours straight, playing what comes to mind, and if the result satisfies me, I publish it on online platforms”.
Have you ever thought about trying it with some artist you know, like Fedez or Maneskin?
“My music is melancholic, their style is completely different, even if I love it, so I find it difficult to collaborate. Maybe with other artists closer to the piano. I already have various proposals…”.
Ferrari returns to Le Mans this year to win. Would you like to race the 24 Hours or the Indianapolis 500?
“More Le Mans than the 500 Miglia, because I’ve always liked the aesthetics of prototypes, since I was a child, and now Ferrari is there with an official car. I hope that one day it will become reality to race together”.
Would you have liked to race in the era of Enzo Ferrari, Gilles Villeneuve or Ayrton Senna?
“I really think so, because then only what happened on the track was important, without all the other activities that drain the drivers’ energy. The F1 paddock had to be similar to what I experienced when I started racing in karts. when you wore a helmet and just competed. Plus it would have been amazing to know three legends like them.”
Would he have gotten along well with the cars of that era?
“Today there’s a lot of study behind driving, while in that case instinct counted more, and I’m an instinctive driver. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot”.
Was it your idea for that family photo in Monte Carlo with your father Hervé’s helmet among you?
“We decided it together. For my younger brother Arthur (F.2 driver; ed) it was the first race in the Principality and we both knew that our father’s dream would be to see us both racing in the home grand prix one day” .
Michael Schumacher waited five years to become world champion with Ferrari. Do you think it is possible to win the title with the red and how long are you willing to wait?
“Of course I believe it. I definitely believe it. I’m very close to Fred, I know his medium and long-term plan and I support it. It’s hard to say how long it will take, because things can change very quickly, as happened to us between 2022 and 2023. It could happen next year or in two years, it also depends on the progress that the rivals make, in any case I am very confident. I will continue to believe in it, even if it will take some time (the contract expires at the end of 2024 ; ed.) But I want to win with Ferrari, in red, and I hope it happens as soon as possible”.
What motivation drives you?
“I love Ferrari, it’s the team that has taken me since 2015 and helped me get to F.1, the team I’ve always dreamed of driving for. It’s a great extra motivation.”
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