F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Vasseur: Monaco win ‘a weight lifted and a step forward’ for Leclerc

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur believes that Charles Leclerc’s long-awaited victory in his home race at Monaco is a turning point for the Monegasque, one that will boost his confidence in the future.

The pressure cooker of expectations finally blew its lid in the Principality on Sunday.

Burdened for years by the weight of a race win in Monaco eluding him, Leclerc delivered a dominant performance to finally conquer his home turf.

The local hero was in a league of his own in qualifying yet again, but this time, he duly converted pole position into a well-deserved victory, navigating the event’s early disruption and restart with calm and composure.

Vasseur reckons that his driver’s milestone achievement has significant implications, not just for Leclerc’s championship aspirations but also for his overall confidence and development.

“First you will stop to ask him each year what will happen next year, what will happen this week, blah blah blah, ” Vasseur said. “This is over now, it’s behind us.

“I think it was an important one that he had a kind of weight on the shoulders for years now about the win in Monaco.

“About sometimes he did small mistakes like F2, sometimes he was unlucky like F1 with me at Alfa Romeo when we had a brake failure and at the end he was not in doubt.

“But he was a bit under pressure with this, but it’s not just about Monaco.

“I think probably for his own self-confidence and for the approach that he has of all the other events, Charles will do a step forward for sure.”

Vasseur highlighted the importance of a driver increasing his winning experience which helps build the solid mentality required to manage pressure and setbacks more effectively. In short, winners breed winners.

“I think one of the characteristics of the winners is also that they are used to win at one stage and they have the confidence to manage the situation,” he explained.

“Even when something happens they have the self-confidence, it’s okay, that I will manage it next time.

“When you are in doubt, it’s a big difference and I think from this one, you will do a step forward for sure.

“I think this one will help him a lot, for sure, in terms of confidence.”

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Leclerc confident Ferrari ‘has a shot’ at F1 Constructors’ title

Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari has a genuine “shot” at beating rival McLaren to Formula…

57 mins ago

Komatsu: F1 teams united against Audi 2026 cost-cap offset

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that nine Formula 1 teams stand in opposition…

2 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 in trouble-free FP1

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…

3 hours ago

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United…

3 hours ago

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

13 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

14 hours ago