Mario Andretti tough on Ferrari: ' Feeling sorry for Leclerc'

Former world champion Mario Andretti has lashed out at Ferrari's management. He sees that the Italian team is struggling, and according to him, it is not because of the drivers. Andretti, in an interview with PlanetF1, details who he believes is the perfect man to bring Ferrari back to the top.

Andretti points out who should help Ferrari

Andretti himself drove for the team with the scarlet cars in the past. The American joined Ferrari in 1982 after the ill-fated accidents of Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi, so he knows better than anyone that there are many Formula 1 fans who have a soft spot for the team. Andretti is proposing a drastic change in management at the team, stating: "Ferrari need to bring Montezemolo back. That’s my take on it. That’s my opinion."

Di Montezemolo was appointed big boss at Ferrari in the 1990s and led the team back to the top with the likes of Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher. Andretti favours a return of the Italian, partly because he is disappointed with the current management: "Right now, I am disappointed in the management of the race team, very disappointed. It’s not the drivers, and I’ll tell you that. It’s not the drivers. They’re not providing the drivers with a winning situation at the moment. We’ll see at the next race but not at the moment. I think the drivers are capable of winning."

'I feel sorry for Charles Leclerc'

Andretti says he finds it especially painful for Charles Leclerc and even feels a little sorry when thinking about contract extensions for the Monegasque. "I feel so badly for him [Leclerc]. He seems frustrated about what is going on at Ferrari. e’s frustrated with what’s going on there at Ferrari. It’s hard to put your finger on that because it seems like something, even strategically, they’re not making all the best decisions. The drivers somehow seem like they don’t have enough say in what’s going on," said the 1978 world champion.