Charles Leclerc’s recent contract extension with Ferrari is heavily influenced by his alignment with Team Principal Frederic Vasseur’s vision for the team.
Vasseur, who took over Ferrari’s reins in mid-January 2023, faced the challenge of adapting to a structure previously moulded by Mattia Binotto.
However, the 2024 season marks a significant turning point under Vasseur’s leadership, notably after his first full winter break with the team, enabling him to imprint his philosophy and approach more profoundly.
Vasseur’s quick adaptation and implementation of his vision at Ferrari have impressed Leclerc, highlighting a shift from the longstanding practices at Maranello.
Leclerc’s trust in Vasseur’s direction for Ferrari is rooted in their longstanding relationship, dating back to Leclerc’s karting days and their professional collaborations in F3 and Leclerc’s rookie F1 season with Alfa Romeo.
“A lot, when Fred arrived, I was expecting him to take a bit of time before actually setting up in this new position, which is a very, I mean, it’s a huge team with so much history,” said Leclerc.
“Things are being done exactly the same way since 15, 20 years ago. When you get here, you need to understand how people work, the Italian people, and just the way that a team at Ferrari works.
“I think Fred understood very, very quickly and put his vision to the team very quickly. He has very clear ideas on what we’re going to achieve and how to achieve those things.”
Leclerc’s decision to renew his commitment to Ferrari was not just out of his affection for the Scuderia but also because of his confidence in the team’s direction under Vasseur.
He added: “And obviously, I have a very good relationship with Fred, and we’ve always been very open in the way he wanted to confirm things and the way we wanted to approach this new way of working.”
“I’m fully aligned with the vision that Fred has for the team medium to long-term, and he has also been part of my discussions when I opted to renew my contract.
“As much as I’m in love with Ferrari and I think everybody knows that, it was important for me to be signing in a team that I trust and that definitely was the case.”
