Charles Leclerc says he is prepared to be patient following Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto’s admission the team’s recovery could take “many years”.
Last year Ferrari signed a long-term deal committing himself to Ferrari. But following their poor start to 2020, which reached a new low when their drivers finished 13th and 14th in Spa last weekend, Binotto warned it could take years for the team to become a leading force in F1 again.Asked whether he was prepared to wait that long, Leclerc laughed: “Well, on one hand, I don’t really have a choice!
“Surely it will take some some patience and I’m ready to wait. But it’s also my job to try and make this whole process as short as possible and for us to come back where we deserve to be.
“It’s not going to be easy. It will take time. But I’m ready for this. My job is to give my best anyway in every situation we are in.”
The arrival of new technical regulations in 2022 will present an opportunity for Ferrari to use its significant resources to close the gap to its rivals. However Leclerc says the team must also learn how it lost its way this year.
“The most important [thing] for now is to try to work out why we are struggling so much this year,” he said. “This will help the future in any way.
“So I’m trying to work as hard as possible like everyone does in the team to try and find the issues and have a solid basis for the years to come.”
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svianna (@svianna)
4th September 2020, 0:02
Lewis was “patient” after 2008 WDC. McLaren endured some pretty bad years, but not as uncompetitive as SF seems to be at the moment. Charles is a great driver and I hope he gets a decent car soon.
ykiki
4th September 2020, 0:47
This surprisingly (or not) is beginning to feel a lot like Ferrari circa 1991.
MB (@muralibhats)
4th September 2020, 1:28
The super long contract now seems a bad idea for him? He could had gone to Mercedes otherwise.
nickthegreek (@nickthegreek)
4th September 2020, 7:52
could he though. I don’t think Mercedes would ever consider replacing Bottas with him. why do it?