Charles Leclerc was MISLED for almost the entire Japanese GP as he believed podium was secure with Max Verstappen’s DNFed
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was confused for the entire Grand Prix, believing that Max Verstappen was out of the race.
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Charles Leclerc confessed to an unusual happening at the Japanese GP. While he did reach a landmark of 1000 Formula One points, he believed he was in contention for the podium places. But then, he find out that he was P4. This confusion was a result of a lack of communication with the team and the on-track chaos with Sergio Perez. The Ferrari driver confused Sergio Perez with Max Verstappen as the Mexican racer incurred a DNF.
“I didn’t even follow what Max did because I saw him stopping at the safety car or after the safety car — I don’t know what happened there and I thought he wasn’t in the race anymore,” said the Monegasque [according to Racer.com]. He believed that he passed Verstappen on track and had to be told during media interviews that it was Perez that he had overtook. Leclerc said, “No, (Verstappen) slowed down at one point, no? Exit of Turn 14. I think it was the VSC yeah, he basically stopped on the left and we all overtook him.”
“Oh, right, okay,” he added when informed it was Perez. “That’s what it was — I thought Max was out of the race at that moment. I was just confusing for me.” Charles Leclerc still found positives from the weekend for Ferrari. But it’s not a hard guess that the radio communication with the team wasn’t included.
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F1 Commentator from Max Verstappen’s country blasts Charles Leclerc
Dutch commentator Allard Kalff claims Carlos Sainz can be a much better lead driver at Ferrari. Kalff recently told Motorsport.com, “I think Carlos Sainz can be more of a team leader than Charles Leclerc. The way Sainz talks on the radio, the way he takes matters into his own hands. I think the fact that he’s winning now is fantastic and that he’s doing it this way is equally fantastic.”
The commentator cites the Singapore GP and how Sainz managed the pace at the front and made decisions himself to secure a stunning Grand Prix Victory. Kalff’s remarks suggest that Charles Leclerc hasn’t been able to lead the way when Ferrari have needed him to.
The Tifosi often helm Charles as their Golden Boy. Leclerc is usually portrayed as the main prospect at Ferrari. But with Sainz besting him of late, debates about who deserves to be Number 1 at Ferrari have started arriving.
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Himanshu Chavan
(232 Articles Published)