Leclerc: I can only thank Mattia Binotto

At a press conference in Bologna ahead of the official FIA gala ceremony, Charles Leclerc commented on the results of the season, which saw him finish second in the individual standings, and also expressed his hope that the transition period Ferrari is now going through will continue passed without complications.

Charles Leclerc: “Honestly, I’m not very happy, although I think it was a good season, especially considering the previous two years, which were very difficult for us. There was no guarantee that we would make such a big step forward and finish the season in second place in both leagues.

I have something to be happy about, but if you start to analyze the season in detail, of course you have to admit that the middle part was a bit disappointing, because our results left a lot to be desired. That’s why the season has left mixed impressions, and yet 2nd place is great, and next year we can take another step forward.

With fresh tires on our car and little fuel in the tank, the F1-75 was capable of high speeds and made a great impression. But on Sunday some problems started with the rubber degradation and it was not easy for us to find the optimal settings. Therefore, in the races you often had to pay for all this – in general, on Saturday the car was very fast, but on Sunday it was sometimes difficult to find out what happened to it.

Our goal in 2023 is to fight for the title, and now the whole team is working in that direction. Obviously the last few weeks have been difficult as the Scuderia is now going through a transition period, but I have full confidence in Benedetto Vigna and John Elkann that they will make the right decision. I am sure that next year we will get closer to our goal of becoming world champions.

Mattia Binotto called me herself and said he was leaving the position of team leader, and I respect his decision. I can only thank him because he believed in me from the beginning and then my contract was extended for many years. He worked for the team for a long time, contributed to the previous success and now I wish him all the best. And our job is to concentrate as much as possible on the tasks ahead and make the right decisions to challenge Red Bull Racing next year.”

Leclerc declined to discuss potential candidates for the position of team leader, insisting that this issue is solely within the competence of the company’s top management. He says he doesn’t know when Binotto’s successor will be named, but admits it will take time for a new person to interface with the team.

However, when asked about Fred Wasser’s candidacy, Leclerc emphasized that his personal experience of working with him was very positive: “He was always distinguished by a straightforward character and honesty, I loved these qualities. But whether he will be appointed as team leader, I do not know. Hopefully we’ll find out in the coming months.”

At the same time, Charles hopes that the transition period will go smoothly and without complications: “Mattia is still working on the base of the team and trying to help her in preparation for 2023. I believe that if the transition period is organized correctly, there will be no particular difficulties and we will have a competitive car next season.”