
Vettel and Leclerc Ferrari's biggest problem, says former chief
Vettel and Leclerc Ferrari's biggest problem, says former chief

Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo says the Scuderia will struggle to recapture the glory years if they do not employ a 'number two' driver and focus their championship ambitions through a defined team leader.
Montezemolo was in charge of the Maranello outfit through Michael Schumacher's years of dominance and paired the German with a clear rear gunner for his time there, with Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa all fulfilling that role.
Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc have demonstrated that neither would be happy to accept second billing, each ignoring team orders to benefit the other across a 2019 season that has seen Mercedes win a sixth world title double – beating the record set by Ferrari under Montezemolo's leadership.
He told Rai: "I always bet on one driver to win the title and the other to help bring points for the constructor's championship, and sometimes to take points away from our opponent to our number 1 driver.
"You remember Irvine? Remember Barrichello? Remember Massa? And remember that all of them have lost a title, especially with Irvine, a good driver but not a champion, he lost it at the last GP in Japan against a real champion like Mika Hakkinen.
"Barrichello was very important when he won the German Grand Prix. They all have been very important as the No.2 driver to help Schumi win the title and help Ferrari win the constructor's title.
"I think one of the problems Ferrari had this year was managing two top drivers like Vettel and Leclerc.
"I think a lot about the future for Ferrari. Leclerc is a really very fast, young driver. He surprised everybody, nobody expected to see him so fast in his first year but he talked too much on the radio.
"He is very good, but we have to careful. He has to grow in time, not too fast. This is a big problem."
Related news

Troubled Ferrari movie set for release later this year

Montoya bemused by Ferrari: 'Who is making these decisions?'

'Leclerc can't park a car to save his life' - F1 Twitter finds hilarious parking photos

'Goosebumps!' Ferrari interrupt Red Bull launch with 2023 car fire up
Most read

F1 LIVE - F1 Academy confirms first driver

FIA under fire AGAIN: Controversial F1 decision 'clearly wrong'

F1 FIA saga takes new turn as Mercedes return to the track - GPFans F1 Recap

Red Bull car launch 2023: Date, time and how to watch live

Ricciardo responds to Red Bull Bathurst snub
F1 Standings

Races
-
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2023
-
Grand Prix of China 2023
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
-
Miami Grand Prix 2023
-
Pirelli Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
-
Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
-
Grand Prix of Spain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Canada 2023
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2023
-
Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
-
Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2023
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2023
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2023
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
-
Grand Prix of Brazil 2023
-
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
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

7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860