Heidfeld: "Leclerc was seen as the great saviour"

Nick Heidfeld believes that the expectations around Charles Leclerc at Ferrari were far too high. However, he thinks that the still young driver can handle the pressure that comes with driving for a team like Ferrari.

"What I've been saying for months, Leclerc was seen as the great savior at the end of last year. Directly from the Italian side. The dream: he gets into the car and succeeds in what so many have failed: becoming world champion", says Heidfeld in his column on Sky Deutschland.

"So much was projected onto him that he couldn't achieve it. In the months and weeks before the season began, he was a 'demigod'. Someone who could do anything. But it was already clear that what is expected of him is completely unrealistic", the former F1 driver continues.

Heidfeld continues his story and thinks it is going to be a very difficult time for Leclerc, but mainly because the car just doesn't work at the moment. He does see a positive future for Leclerc.

"Nowhere is the pressure greater than at Ferrari. Fortunately this is exactly Charles' great strength: dealing with pressure. This helps enormously, especially at Ferrari. Nowhere are the expectations higher. An essential question now is: how can he develop further?" ends Heidfeld.