In a rather unorthodox approach, Piero Ferrari, Ferrari’s esteemed vice president, has expressed the view that Charles Leclerc falls short of Max Verstappen’s incredible talent.
Piero Ferrari occupies a unique position as the only surviving son of the legendary Enzo Ferrari and has faithfully served as Vice President since 1989, one year after his father’s death. His extensive experience and deep-seated connection to the iconic brand make his opinions particularly noteworthy.
Adding to his remarkable pedigree, Piero Ferrari boasts of being the only member of the Ferrari family to grace the Formula 1 podium. His memorable moment came in 2013 when he joined Fernando Alonso on the prestigious steps after the Spaniard’s triumphant victory at the Chinese Grand Prix .
However, Ferrari’s days of triumphant victories now seem like a distant memory as the team continues to struggle with a winless streak in 2023 after going through a painful 17 races without finishing on the top of the podium.
While hope remains for the fortunes to be turned around, Charles Leclerc is emerging as the main contender to end this drought and restore the glory of the Scuderia. However, Piero Ferrari, known for his insightful perspective, has pointed out a fundamental discrepancy between Leclerc and current championship leader Max Verstappen – experience.
Recognizing Leclerc’s undeniable talent, Piero Ferrari points out that the young Monaco driver still lacks the experienced knowledge Verstappen possesses, which could potentially be the difference between victory and defeat.
Piero Ferrari, in an interview with Autosprint, remarked: “Charles has the speed to match Verstappen. But he has less experience when it comes to the number of general practitioners. Leclerc can still develop, he will grow.
With 107 grand prix to his name, Charles Leclerc’s racing journey pales in comparison to Max Verstappen’s impressive 168. While Leclerc has repeatedly showcased his exceptional skills, Ferrari realizes there is still untapped potential waiting to be unleashed by his teammate Carlos Sainz.
However, it is Verstappen who is getting effusive praise from Ferrari as the Dutch driver appears poised to claim a remarkable third consecutive championship title. Fondly recalling Verstappen’s triumph at Barcelona in 2016, Ferrari describes him as “at the peak of his career”, a testament to his extraordinary talent and relentless pursuit of success.
“He’s incredibly fast, he was already driving in F1 when he didn’t even have a driving licence,” the 77-year-old said of Dutch driver Max Verstappen.
“I was there when he got his first win in Barcelona. Then he made his mistakes, his accidents. Now he is young and already has a lot of experience. He is a great driver who is now at the peak of his career.”
