Leclerc 'One Of Few Who Can Challenge Verstappen' According To Scheckter
F1Monday, 25 December 2023 at 07:00
Former Ferrari F1 World Champion Jody Scheckter evaluated the situation in the Italian team ahead of the 2024 season.
Jody Scheckter won the Formula One world Championship with Ferrari in 1979 - an achievement both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz dream about.
While Sainz recently shared there is no better team to win the championship than Ferrari, both Scuderia drivers are currently facing challenging tasks.
Leclerc and Sainz have shown they have the speed to deliver the results in multiple qualifications, but Ferrari cars currently struggle with race pace. Scheckter told Gazzetta dello Sport:
"I'm not in Maranello, so I can't know the details well, but it seems that the main trouble has a lot to do with managing the tires well."
Many new fans of Formula One are surprised to learn that Grand Prix races are more about tire management than the overall speed of each driver.
What Ferrari currently struggles with is that the team has two very fast drivers but a car that requires too much tire management and doesn't allow its drivers to push.
"And it's something horrible for a driver, from my experience. In the race, you have to 'manage' more than push, which Max does very well - he always stays just below the level where they stress and ruin."
Scheckter also stated Max Verstappen would have been the best driver even in 1979. On the other hand, he believes Leclerc could bring the challenge to the triple World Champion. He said:
"I really like Charles Leclerc, even though he made some mistakes he shouldn't have made. He is one of the few who can challenge Max Verstappen, but he absolutely has to eliminate the mistakes."
Sainz also exceeded expectations and showed what he could do with incredible performances during the Singapore and Italian Grand Prix. The World Champion added:
"And Carlos Sainz has proven to be better than I thought - he's up to the task."
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