While Formula 1 is preparing to archive the world ad Abu Dhabi there are those who hope that a real revolution can take place in the Maranello team. Ferrari, were to finish second in the constructors' standings and second in the drivers' standings with Leclerc, could be said to be partially satisfied but this placement is also coveted by another team, Mercedes, the only team to have snatched a win from Red Bull, unbeaten since the distant French GP, and by Sergio Perez who would give Red Bull a historic 1-2.
During the season, Ferrari had to face several problems, among reliability, strategies and Budget Cap. The faults primarily fell on Maranello's workforce starting, as always happens, from its main head, Mattia binotto, often accused of not being suitable for the role he has held since 2019. One of the criticisms concerned, in addition to the strategies, the management of the pilots, in particular of Charles Leclerc, deeply marked by some episodes that occurred this season. The team, according to some increasingly insistent rumors, as a first step would have relieved Mattia Binotto from his position, also identifying a possible replacement. The first to talk about this story, after the denial it was Charles Leclerc himself who arrived from the upper floors, who explained how things are on the eve of the weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Leclerc: "There are always rumors about Ferrari"
In the years in which he arrived at Ferrari, Charles waited impatiently for his moment, first taking the lead over Vettel, and then being patient in the years in which the team had to run with a detuned engine. 2022 was his year, but the team didn't bet 100% on him as they would have expected. Although he has always remained composed in his statements, some radio teams have stripped him, being the only moment in which he could really free himself and let off steam. Even in Brazil, the team did not listen to his request, but the Monegasque later stated that he understood the reasons.
At the mercy of decisions made for him, often wrong, some moments, such as Monaco, Silverstone would have been fatal in breaking those balances held up by a very thin thread. That the question comes out now, with one GP remaining in the championship, is a way to attract attention before the grand finale. Charles as far as he can limits himself to neither denying nor confirming anything, bringing attention back to the fight in second place.
“In general, there are always rumors in F1 – Leclerc said in front of reporters – especially with regard to Ferrari. When we get to the end of the season there are always rumours. We have to concentrate on work and on the track. People forget the step forward we made this year. Now there is another step to take for next year. As for performance, we come from ups and downs. We had an accident in Brazil, but the pace was good. After two difficult years, we hope to finish by going back to fighting for the win. Even if we are already thinking about the 2023 championship".
On Vettel: "it meant so much to me"
Abu Dhabi will be a vale of tears ahead of the last Grand Prix of a star in this category, Sebastian Vettel. His older colleagues, such as Hamilton and Alonso knowing what is at stake when F1 becomes more important than your own life, have played down saying that in a few years time he will change his mind and return. The younger ones speak of him as an example, and this was precisely for Charles who thus commented on Sebastian's farewell. “I remember that I was already working on the simulator in F2 Charles said. “It's not an easy job to do, it's really tiring. And I thought Seb didn't even know I was in the simulator. One day instead I received a letter in which he thanked me for the hard work. This meant a lot to me at the time. "
Source statements: FormulaPassion
