Former Method 1 driver David Coulthard believes Charles Leclerc has the mandatory maturity to deal with the extraordinary strain of partnering seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, insisting the Monegasque driver will perceive he can not beat the Briton each single weekend.
The dynamic at Ferrari has come underneath scrutiny following Hamilton’s maiden victory with the crew on the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Whereas the 41-year-old celebrated the main milestone, Leclerc endured a irritating weekend after crashing in qualifying and retiring from the race on account of an influence steering concern.
Talking on the Up To Velocity podcast, Coulthard weighed in on the continued discussions surrounding Leclerc and the way he’ll cope with the brand new strain from his team-mate.
“I believe that he is mature sufficient in his profession now to know that racing in opposition to a seven-time world champion, you are definitely not going to beat him on a regular basis,” the previous Pink Bull driver mentioned.
“He in all probability discovered it a bit simpler than he anticipated when Hamilton joined from Mercedes, he principally was nonetheless the pacesetter inside the crew. However what we have seen this 12 months, assume again to Shanghai the place they have been move, repass, battling. We have been questioning, ‘Are Ferrari doing the fitting factor, letting their guys race?’ However truly, it was sensible leisure for us, and it was the early signal that Lewis Hamilton was again to his sensible greatest.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
“So he can be dissatisfied in his personal efficiency within the final couple of grands prix. He is obtained a multi-million-pound, safe contract going ahead.
“Even when the worst involves the worst for him in that Lewis regularly delivers, will get the wins, wins the championship, Lewis can certainly solely be round for one more two years, three years. I can not think about he’ll be round for the subsequent 5 years, which I think about is the size of the contract that Charles has.”
Hamilton at present sits second within the drivers’ championship, 41 factors behind chief Kimi Antonelli. Leclerc is fourth, 40 factors behind his team-mate.
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