Leclerc: Ferrari technical structure ‘amazing’ even without Newey

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Charles Leclerc says “there are no disappointments” at Ferrari regarding Adrian Newey’s decision to reject the Italian outfit despite the team’s best efforts to attract the legendary F1 designer to Maranello.

Earlier this year, Ferrari emerged as the front-runner to secure Newey’s services following the Briton’s decision to depart Red Bull after a nearly two-decade tenure with the championship winning team.

But news last June of Newey’s secret visit to Aston Martin’s headquarters and meeting with team owner Lawrence Stroll gradually shifted the speculation towards the Silverstone-based outfit.

In the end, Newey opted to continue his extraordinary career in F1 with Aston Martin, to the detriment of Ferrari.

Leclerc, who previously described the prospect of Newey joining Ferrari as “amazing,” reiterated his respect for the Briton’s decision and, more importantly, his faith in Ferrari’s collective strength.

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“No, there are no disappointments,” the Monegasque told the media in Baku on Thursday. “It’s not like we haven’t tried or haven’t spoken to Adrian.

“So, I knew, I know that there were talks. Then he made his decision. We respect his decision.”

Indeed, Leclerc's comments echo the stance of Ferrari team principal, Frederic Vasseur, who confirmed that negotiations had taken place but ultimately broke down due to differing perspectives.

Despite the allure of adding Newey’s unrivaled expertise to Ferrari’s technical team, Leclerc emphasized that the Scuderia’s approach has always been about unity, not individual brilliance.

“At the end, as Ferrari, we have always considered more the group than the actual individual.

“Of course, Adrian has done amazing things. But on our side, we’ve got an amazing group. I have no doubts that going forward, we have an extremely strong team to come back at the top.”

Leclerc’s confidence in Ferrari’s technical team remains undiminished, even with the recent departure of technical director chassis, Enrico Cardile, who is also set to join Aston Martin alongside Newey.

Ferrari, however, has acted swiftly to reorganize its engineering department, announcing the appointment of Loic Serra from Mercedes as their new technical director.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.