Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur highlighted that Charles Leclerc tends to blame himself excessively, a trait that has become clear once again following the driver’s qualifying performance at Silverstone. Leclerc’s strong self-critical attitude surfaced amid visible frustration after securing sixth place in qualifying during the British Grand Prix weekend.
Leclerc is known alongside Lando Norris as one of the most self-critical drivers on the Formula 1 grid. After expressing his disappointment with some harsh language on the team radio, Vasseur noted that the team is trying to help Leclerc manage this side of his mental approach to competition.
Insights Into Leclerc’s Struggle With Self-Accountability
During qualifying at Silverstone, Leclerc’s post-session radio message conveyed his extreme disappointment:
“F–k, f–k, f–k, f–k, f–k that. So f–king shit I am. I am so f–king shit. That’s all I am,”
revealing the depth of his frustration. Vasseur explained that Ferrari recognizes this intense self-reflection as a long-standing trait of Leclerc’s.
“For probably 10 years, one of the qualities of Charles is that he’s able to blame himself,”
Vasseur said in an interview with media including PlanetF1.com, further adding,
“One of the faults of Charles is sometimes he’s blaming himself a bit too much.”
Vasseur acknowledged that while self-awareness and admitting mistakes are positive qualities for drivers, there is a delicate balance to strike. He remarked,
“As a team, I appreciate a lot the fact that the driver can say ‘okay, my mistake’ this is positive, because it’s not bringing the team in the wrong direction and they are human. It’s good to have the drivers able to say this.”
Balancing Qualifying and Race Performance Focus
Vasseur explained that Ferrari had anticipated a tougher qualifying session compared to the race due to the car’s setup, which favors race conditions over single-lap pace. Reflecting on a conversation with Leclerc from two years prior, Vasseur emphasized the importance of prioritizing race performance on Sundays where points are scored.
He said,
“We did a real step forward in terms of race pace, perhaps also with the setup of the car and it’s probably going to be more difficult for the quali.”
He added,
“But I remember perfectly that two years ago we were telling Charles that we are scoring points on Sunday. Let’s be more focused on Sunday. Let’s be more focused on the setup on Sunday, because it’s Sunday that we are scoring points.”
Highlighting Leclerc’s recent trend, Vasseur noted,
“In ’23 we did a five or six pole positions and zero wins for Charles, and we are pushing him into this direction.”
Leclerc’s Continual Frustration Reflects Beyond the Cockpit
The driver’s dissatisfaction with his qualifying performance extended beyond the radio to his comments in the mixed zone. Leclerc confessed,
“More than getting away from me, I’m not doing the job,”
indicating his belief that he is falling short of expectations.
He expressed confidence in his race performances so far this season but did not hide his discontent with his qualifying results, stating that qualifying used to be a personal strength. Leclerc admitted,
“Unfortunately, when I look back at qualifying, which used to be my strength, there are many qualifying where I would like to go back and to change something, because every time I get to Q3, for some reason, it’s not clicking.”
He further acknowledged technical challenges during the weekend, stating,
“We’ve got issues, for sure, particularly today, from Q2 onwards, we been fighting with something inside the car. But it’s not an excuse. I need to be better.”
The Significance of Managing Self-Criticism for Future Success
Vasseur’s insight into Leclerc’s intense self-criticism sheds light on the pressures faced by the young driver amid Ferrari’s challenging 2023 season. While the driver’s ability to recognize mistakes can benefit the team dynamic, the battle against disproportionate self-blame could be crucial for Leclerc’s mental resilience and performance stability.
With Ferrari continuing to improve race pace, the next focus will be enhancing qualifying consistency as Leclerc strives to translate his raw speed into stronger grid positions. How the team supports him in balancing self-accountability with confidence will likely play a key role in future races and the quest for wins.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Charles Leclerc a millionaire?
A. In recent years, Charles Leclerc’s net worth has increased significantly. By 2025, experts predict it will reach about $50 million, says Celebrity Net Worth and Planet F1.
Q. Does Charles Leclerc have a PhD?
A. Charles Leclerc finished his doctorate in neuropsychology at Université de Montréal, following a clinical and scientist approach. His research focused on how the brain reorganizes itself when certain parts receive little or no stimulation. This work resulted in several scientific articles.
Q. Is Charles Leclerc a doctor?
A. Charles has a PhD in Medicine, a postgraduate degree in clinical pathology, and an MBA from EM Lyon.