Sauber team principal Frederic Vasseur praised Charles Leclerc’s qualifying effort which gave the team its best starting position since 2015.
“It’s a great result for us,” Vasseur told RaceFans in an exclusive interview. “And also the fact that Marcus [Ericsson] did Q2 after a tough Friday.”
“It’s a good recovery for Marcus and for the team because Charles was a bit nowhere [on Friday]. Very happy for the team, for the good job done compared to yesterday. It’s the first Q3, it’s another step.”Leclerc has made rapid progress following a difficult start to his first Formula 1 season, said Vasseur.
“For sure he has a brilliant [performance] in the junior series. But the step between the Formula Two and F1 is a big one, not so much on driving but the fact that you have to manage more things in the car and much more outside of the car.
“He struggled a bit at the beginning of the season to put everything together. But step by step he is doing the job, improving. I think today was a huge one.”
Vassuer believes Leclerc’s growing confidence has been key to his recent run of results.
“It’s not coming from one single thing. I think that he has to build up his own confidence step by step. The fact that he knows he is able to do it is one thing, to do it is another one.
“In Baku the result was a great one. For sure the first stint I think he was fighting with I think Raikkonen and Ricciardo, for the confidence it was a huge step forward. Then also the fact that now has a much better understanding of the car [and] how he wants to get the car.”
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2018 F1 season
- McLaren staff told us we were “totally crazy” to take Honda engines in 2018 – Tost
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
Vettel fan 17 (@)
24th June 2018, 9:47
I must admit, after the first few races I thought maybe he wasn’t good enough but like Vasseur said after Baku he’s done amazing.
Gabriel (@rethla)
24th June 2018, 11:57
He was always selfcritic and open about his performance and what he needed to work on, like day and night to Nasr and Wehrlein. I guess it actually pays of working hard instead of blaming everyone around you.
Garns (@)
24th June 2018, 12:48
He said he was driving with his F2 style and realised it didn’t work and made changes and now doing really well. That takes immense talent and maturity at such an inexperienced level to either know this or to listen to those that tell you this. Few drivers can change their driving style so quickly and improve so much. This guy is going to be mega!
Balue (@balue)
24th June 2018, 12:25
Hugely impressive. I hope he gets the Ferrari seat next season.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
24th June 2018, 22:43
On the question of if/when Ferrari should promote Charles Leclerc: if they wish him to join the Scuderia for 2019, I will understand and appreciate this; it would work well. In the medium term, Ferrari needs Charles to do what Fernando could not and Sebastian may or may not do (but “not do” is looking increasingly plausible).
However, if Ferrari opts to do something else – keep Charles at Sauber, or send him to Haas (I’d prefer the former but could see merit in the latter)… …the more I see, the more I think Charles would make the most of that time to improve even further and be an even better driver for Ferrari upon arrival. Also, Kimi might not be pushing Sebastian very much but he seems to be doing the job Ferrari want him to do, so it’s not even necessarily a problem for Ferrari.
It’s a nice problem to have.