“That’s Life”: Frederic Vasseur Comes Out in Defense of Charles Leclerc as Ferrari Driver’s Crimes Invite Fellow Driver’s Wrath

The British Grand Prix has spotlighted Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, whose defensive driving has stirred controversy and drawn criticism from his rivals. Despite this, Ferrari’s team principal, Frédéric Vasseur, staunchly defends Leclerc, maintaining that his actions on the track were entirely within the rules. The race showcased an exceptional performance from George Russell, who finished fifth in a solid race. Despite his impressive display, Russell found himself frustrated by Leclerc’s defensive maneuvers during their on-track battle.

The Mercedes driver expressed his discontent over the team radio, stating, “If that’s not moving under braking, I don’t know what is.” In a post-race interview with Sky Sports, Russell elaborated on his concerns, citing “questionable defending” by Leclerc. Russell admitted his frustration, acknowledging that earlier successful overtakes could have potentially altered the outcome of his race.

However, Vasseur held a contrasting view, defending Leclerc’s actions and subtly criticizing Russell’s own driving style, which has also come under scrutiny this season. Vasseur responded to the criticism by quipping to the media, “Yeah, I can show you some action from the beginning of the season. He [Russell] did also good ones. That’s life.”

While Vasseur defended Leclerc, the final results favored Mercedes and Russell. He even managed to surpass Leclerc in the standings, claiming the sixth position. Leclerc’s performance at Silverstone landed him in ninth place, with his teammate Carlos Sainz finishing in tenth. The team performance fell short of impressing anyone; but was specifically disappointing for the boss, Frederic Vasseur.

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Lessons from Silverstone for Charles Leclerc and Co.

Expressing his disappointment, Vasseur emphasized that Ferrari could have achieved better results, considering their starting positions of fourth and fifth. The team principal acknowledged that finishing ninth and tenth was not satisfactory, calling for a thorough analysis of the entire weekend’s performance. The race underscored the challenges faced by the SF-23, as it struggled to match the pace of the frontrunners.

During the race, Ferrari’s strategy called for Leclerc to pit earlier than planned to defend against Russell. However, Leclerc’s struggle with the Hard tires prevented him from maintaining his position. Sainz, on the other hand, extended his stint and seemed on track for a fifth or seventh-place finish. However, their plans were disrupted by a safety car triggered by Magnussen, allowing other drivers to pit more efficiently and climb up the higher positions.

As the Formula 1 Championship prepares for consecutive races, Ferrari is focusing on performance enhancement. Primarily focusing on adapting to diverse track conditions and introducing new components, the Scuderia aims to gear up, as in the competitive midfield battle, precision and consistency are key.

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