Fittipaldi feels for Leclerc and Sainz: 'They are under enormous pressure'

Emerson Fittipaldi has expressed his sympathy for Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. In an interview with Italy's Kelbet, the two-time world champion addressed Ferrari's performance this season, in which he highlighted how difficult the drivers' position is in that team.

After Ferrari were able to slightly challenge Red Bull for the title last season, expectations were high for the Italian team this year. This became immediately clear during the winter break when Ferrari chief Benedetto Vigna stated, "Of course, the world title should be the goal now. Team boss Fred Vasseur knows what he has to do."

Those expectations will be felt not only by the team itself but certainly by the drivers too, Fittipaldi believes. "I think Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have been under pressure because of the expectations coming from Ferrari. The expectations coming from all over Italy, from all the Ferrari fans in the world. There is one thing that happens when Ferrari doesn't do well. They say, 'It's the driver's fault'. It is very difficult to be a Ferrari driver. There is an expectation that comes from the story, from the name, from everything."

'Ferrari strategy has only made it harder for Leclerc and Sainz'

Ferrari became notorious for making questionable strategic choices with some regularity in 2022. According to Fittipaldi, that certainly won't have helped with driver confidence.

"I think what happened in the last two years with the Ferrari strategy and the mistakes, all this has put even more pressure on the drivers. It's a difficult position for them. It's not easy to be there. Ferrari means passion for racing. If you go to an F1 paddock, Ferrari mechanics are very proud of that red uniform with a lot of history. They are very proud. But at the same time, everyone demands results. No matter what your role is within the team, if you are part of Ferrari you are under enormous pressure."