Vettel is a number one, Leclerc isn't yet - former Ferrari chief
Vettel is a number one, Leclerc isn't yet - former Ferrari chief
Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has dismissed the notion of Sebastian Vettel becoming 'number two' driver to Charles Leclerc, despite the German being reduced to an assisting role at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Leclerc took his maiden race win, and Ferrari's first victory of the season at Spa-Francorchamps, with Vettel receiving team orders to let Leclerc through, before holding up Lewis Hamilton's late charge to help the 21-year-old further.
Vettel had qualified second on the grid behind Leclerc, but eventually finished fourth as he struggled to maintain tyre life.
Summing up the race in Belgium, former F1 racer turned pundit Martin Brundle wrote: "I knew he was going to be good, but not this good. He's effectively already the team leader as Sebastian Vettel struggles to match his speed and control."
However, Di Montezemolo – Ferrari chief during the glory years of the early 2000s – says Leclerc's success would not come without a fine performance from Vettel, who he still sees as a top driver.
"Sebastian was crucial for the victory," Di Montezemolo said at Ferrari's 90th anniversary celebrations at Milan's Piazza del Duomo.
"I think without Sebastian it was very difficult for Leclerc to win the race, very difficult, because Sebastian was able to hold back Hamilton for a few laps.
"Sebastian is for me still very, very good. I think the pair is very good. In the normal life, you have some moments with some difficulties.
"But I am sure he has all the characteristics to come back. I hope very soon, and I hope in a few days.
"Vettel is not a number two. Vettel is a number one and Leclerc is in the process to be a number one, so it is good to have two number ones."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 Qualifying Results: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 times - 100th Red Bull pole as Hamilton crashes out in Q1
- 27 minutes ago
Chinese Grand Prix Sprint 2024 results: Final classification with penalties applied
- 2 hours ago
Hamilton suffers CATASTROPHIC F1 qualifying after early exit
- 39 minutes ago
Chinese Grand Prix qualifying red flagged after unusual HIGH SPEED crash
- 48 minutes ago
F1 Chinese Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today from Shanghai
- 1 hour ago
Perez hits 'engineer's brother' in Chinese GP incident
- 2 hours ago
Related news
Hamilton to open Wolff talks at Mercedes amid Ferrari F1 move uncertainty
Hamilton WARNED by Ferrari chief over performance levels
Brundle issues WARNING to 'under pressure' Ferrari star
F1 pundit says SHOCK team have ‘broken the back’ of rivals
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860