Though only officially linked to that particular session, it was widely interpreted to explain the SF90’s outstanding straight-line performance, particularly in qualifying, where the team had just completed a run of six consecutive pole positions before its form slumped during the final rounds. Indeed, Leclerc’s efforts were largely considered to have been undermined by a curious development during the latter stages of the 2019 campaign, the legacy of which could be seen throughout 2020.ĭuring the United States Grand Prix, Ferrari was hit hard by a ruling from the FIA that stated it had committed ‘fuel flow irregularities’. With Ferrari rubber-stamping a long-term four-year deal with Leclerc over the elongated break prior to the delayed 2020 F1 season kicking off in July, the youngster went on to endure ‘second-year blues’ as the team’s form waned during a troublesome season Despite the tension, Leclerc succeeded in out-scoring Vettel, thus securing his future in the team over his four-time title-winning counterpart. Indeed, Leclerc’s ascending confidence came in tandem with a crisis in said confidence from Vettel, whose stalling form was underpinned by an error-strewn at Monza showing that ramped up the tension in the team as the hierarchy began to shift towards the young upstart.ĭespite their best attempts to stifle the growing media speculation about a rift between the two, the pair came to blows in a messy Brazilian Grand Prix after Leclerc’s untidy pass into Turn 1 prompted Vettel to respond by squeezing him on the run to Turn 3, with the pair making contact that would put both out of the race. Sending the tifosi into raptures, Leclerc’s victory was Ferrari’s first on home soil since Fernando Alonso triumphed in 2010, in so doing assuring himself a place in the team’s ‘hall of fame’ in a way team-mate Vettel hadn’t yet achieved. Just a week later Leclerc turned in another sensational second victory at Monza in his first Italian Grand Prix since joining Ferrari after prevailing in a fierce - and at times physical - battle with Lewis Hamilton.
#Charles leclerc f1 driver#
The youngest driver in 50 years to steer a Ferrari in F1, despite the immense pressure of partnering Sebastian Vettel in a car that during pre-season testing appeared at least the match of the all-conquering Mercedes, Leclerc swiftly flourished beyond his relative inexperience and by rights deserved victory during Round 2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix after leading the majority of the way from his first pole position before technical issues late on demoted him to third.ĭespite that early burst of performance, Leclerc had to wait until mid-season to assert himself as a convincing front-runner, which he achieved with a run of four podiums - including a second pole position in Austria - before he claimed an emotional maiden victory from the front of the grid at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix just a day after friend Anthoine Hubert had died following an accident during the supporting F2 race. As arguably the most promising startlet in several years to break through via the Ferrari Driver Academy, the storied team broke with tradition for 2019 by promoting Leclerc to the Scuderia for only his second season in F1.
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