Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has ignited a passionate endorsement from the Tifosi following his statement on his star driver Charles Leclerc. The buzz of approval comes as Vasseur boldly crowned Charles Leclerc as the undisputed No. 1 driver over Carlos Sainz. The statement from Vasseur came through via a post on X (formerly Twitter) following the conclusion of the last qualifying session of the season in Abu Dhabi. And the Monegasque, once again, showed his dominance over a single-lap pace as he put his car on the front row alongside the world champion Max Verstappen.

However, this shouldn’t really come as a surprise because Ferrari has clearly demonstrated that they have put their utmost faith in Charles Leclerc. The year 2019 marked a significant moment in Ferrari’s history when the then-21-year-old Charles Leclerc stepped into the illustrious red overalls, replacing the seasoned Iceman, Kimi Raikkonen.

A remarkable fourth-place finish ahead of the formidable opponent, Sebastian Vettel, was enough to secure a lucrative 5-year contract for the Monegasque prodigy. The weight of expectations was immense—Ferrari envisioned the Monegasque as the torchbearer to lead them out of a championship drought that had persisted for too long.

Tifosi came together to cement Charles Leclerc as the undisputed No. 1 driver at Ferrari following Vasseur’s comments

Despite designing a formidable car at the start of the new regulations of ground-effect cars in 2022, Ferrari found themselves grappling with challenges over the past two seasons. The pitfalls for the Maranello-based team stem from a variety of reasons, including the tire degradation problem and having not a particularly good race day strategy. In the midst of these tough times, Team Principal Fred Vasseur has unabashedly placed his faith in Charles Leclerc.

According to the post on X, Vasseur revealed in an interview with Canal+, “We need a leader like Charles pulling us along at the moment. It feels good.” These words, more than a mere endorsement, were a public commitment to the young driver as the center of Ferrari’s resurgence.

Fast forward to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the constructor championship’s second position hangs tantalizingly in the balance. Charles Leclerc rang true to the leadership envisioned by Vasseur, and outshone his teammate Carlos Sainz in qualifying (who failed to make it out of Q1), securing the second starting slot for the crucial race day. This performance was not lost on the Tifosi, whose passion for Ferrari runs deep.

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As the sun set on the Yas Marina Circuit, the Tifosi took to social media, turning the digital platform into a celebration of Charles Leclerc. Their messages of support echoed the sentiment of Fred Vasseur’s proclamation. One fan, responding to a post on X, succinctly captured the collective sentiment, “Well, I guess this seals it.”

Another fan, in a burst of emoticons, declared Leclerc as “Our captain 🫡,” underlining the belief that he is the beacon guiding Ferrari’s future. “the future of Ferrari is bright and full of hope still as long as they have Leclerc,” the Tifosi concluded.

Another fan urged Ferrari to elevate Leclerc further, saying, “Charles being Charles. Please, give him the car next year!!!” These sentiments echoed across the Ferrari faithful, who see in Leclerc not just a brilliant driver but a figure capable of steering the team towards glory.

Another fan eloquently noted, “He’s such a fine leader & growing more & more into the role all the time, whether on track or off, and whether by deed or by word. They have something special, now to make the most of it…” This sentiment captures the optimism that Leclerc’s leadership brings to the Scuderia, both on and off the track.

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Do you think the Monegasque can help Ferrari return to their former glory and finally win the championship that had eluded them for over a decade? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.