H
Even if Leclerc wasn’t asking himself these
questions in relation to his position within
Ferrari at the start of 2019, plenty were asking
on his behalf. The ‘what’ seemed a certainty:
eventually Leclercwould displace Sebastian
Vettel within Ferrari. The ‘when’ was a little
more unclear, but surely it would only be a
matter of time. The main unknown was ‘how’.
After all, team principal Mattia Binotto called
Vettel – a four-time worldchampion now in
his fifth season with Ferrari – Maranello’s
“guide”to the title. Leclerc was the highly ratedyoung upstart of whom Ferrari expected great
things but did not want to crush under the
pressure of expectation.
Leclerc knew this, accepted he would start life
as ade factonumber two andcalled it “my job
then to turn things around”. Some nine months
later, he may sit and reflect on a jobwell done,
with two races particularly clear in his, Binotto’s
and Vettel’s memories.
A maiden F1 victory for Leclerc in Belgium was
also Ferrari’s first of the season. He followed that
up a week later by winning in Italy.Vettel spun early in Ferrari’s home race, then
pickedup a penalty for rejoining straight into the
path of Lance Stroll. While Leclerc lapped up the
love of thetifosion a wild Monza podium, Vettel
was left to skulk in the shadows.
Leclerc’s progress to becoming Ferrari’s main
man was not the product of a sudden surge in
form after the summer break, though. He was
causing Vettel, and Ferrari, problems from the
very first race. On a dismalweekend for the team,
Ferrari had to order Charles to hold position
in Australia, after he caught Vettel forfour th.
Leclerc complied. But one week later, when
potential victory was on theline, hedid not.
“I had the opportunity and I just didn’t see
myself lifting andstaying behind,” said Leclerc,
just a few hours after he had ignored a Ferrari
request to hold station after catching Vettel for
the lead in Bahrain, having thrown away his pole“ThewaythatCharlesisgrowing
isverypositive,he’satalent,
weknewit,butIthinkhe’s
reallylearningfrommistakes,
andthat’smoreimportant”
MattiaBinotto
ow does an understudy oust the star? When does the Beta know it
is time to replace the Alpha? What does a support act need to do
to become the main attraction? Look to Charles Leclerc andone
may find an all-encompassing answer. After all, he has unwittinglyH become the perfect Formula 1 subject for such questions.
Even if Leclerc wasn’t asking himself these
questions in relation to his position within
Ferrari at the start of 2019, plenty were asking
on his behalf. The ‘what’ seemed a certainty:
eventually Leclercwould displace Sebastian
Vettel within Ferrari. The ‘when’ was a little
more unclear, but surely it would only be a
matter of time. The main unknown was ‘how’.
After all, team principal Mattia Binotto called
Vettel – a four-time worldchampion now in
his fifth season with Ferrari – Maranello’s
“guide”to the title. Leclerc was the highly ratedyoung upstart of whom Ferrari expected great
things but did not want to crush under the
pressure of expectation.
Leclerc knew this, accepted he would start life
as ade factonumber two andcalled it “my job
then to turn things around”. Some nine months
later, he may sit and reflect on a jobwell done,
with two races particularly clear in his, Binotto’s
and Vettel’s memories.
A maiden F1 victory for Leclerc in Belgium was
also Ferrari’s first of the season. He followed that
up a week later by winning in Italy.Vettel spun early in Ferrari’s home race, then
pickedup a penalty for rejoining straight into the
path of Lance Stroll. While Leclerc lapped up the
love of thetifosion a wild Monza podium, Vettel
was left to skulk in the shadows.
Leclerc’s progress to becoming Ferrari’s main
man was not the product of a sudden surge in
form after the summer break, though. He was
causing Vettel, and Ferrari, problems from the
very first race. On a dismalweekend for the team,
Ferrari had to order Charles to hold position
in Australia, after he caught Vettel forfour th.
Leclerc complied. But one week later, when
potential victory was on theline, hedid not.
“I had the opportunity and I just didn’t see
myself lifting andstaying behind,” said Leclerc,
just a few hours after he had ignored a Ferrari
request to hold station after catching Vettel for
the lead in Bahrain, having thrown away his pole“ThewaythatCharlesisgrowing
isverypositive,he’satalent,
weknewit,butIthinkhe’s
reallylearningfrommistakes,
andthat’smoreimportant”
MattiaBinotto
ow does an understudy oust the star? When does the Beta know it
is time to replace the Alpha? What does a support act need to do
to become the main attraction? Look to Charles Leclerc andone
may find an all-encompassing answer. After all, he has unwittingly
become the perfect Formula 1 subject for such questions.