Photo: RacePictures.

Leclerc slams Vasseur rumours after Elkann statement: 'Very unfounded’

22:49, 25 Oct

byOlly Darcy

Charles Leclerc has said that the "rumours" surrounding the future of Frederic Vasseur as Ferrari team principal "are very unfounded".

"I don't think anybody enjoys it in the team. We would rather just focus on what's most important for us. But it's the way it is."

- Charles Leclerc

It comes after Ferrari chairman John Elkann released a statement before the United States Grand Prix, backing the Frenchman after speculation surrounding his future at the Scuderia grew.

At the Mexico City Grand Prix, Leclerc was asked about Elkann's need to release a statement of backing for Vasseur.

"It's the way it is. I've been with the team since 2019 now, and I know that these kinds of rumours are always being blown out of proportion," Leclerc explained.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur - Photo: Race Pictures

"Is this something I enjoy? No, of course not. I don't think anybody enjoys it in the team. We would rather just focus on what's most important for us. But it's the way it is.

"I think Ferrari is very special, because whenever we do something good, it's blown up out of proportion into something incredible. But that also is true for the opposite. That makes it more difficult, I think, to manage these ups and downs when you drive for a team like Ferrari.

"But it's also what makes it special, and we need to make sure that these kinds of things don't affect us, and I don't think it did. We had a great weekend in Austin, considering everything that was going on with the team. It is not easy, but we've done a good job as a team to do that, and we need to keep on doing that."

Hamilton and Leclerc stand strong amid rumours

In Austin, as the rumours continued to build before Elkann's statement, one name was heavily linked as Vasseur's potential replacement: Christian Horner.

The former Red Bull team boss has had plenty of rumours himself fly around as a search back into F1 continues. However, that was not even entertained by Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton when asked in the Austin paddock.

Leclerc was then asked whether he and Hamilton had spoken together about the rumours due to their close-knit relationship with Vasseur.

Charles Leclerc in action at the Mexico City Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"Not really. I think we are speaking from our hearts, and what we think is right," continued the Monegasque, who was also quick to dismiss the rumours linking Horner to Ferrari.

"But, again, I think it's very important to say that all these rumours are very unfounded, and in those cases, it's not like we speak about those rumours together with Lewis, and that's why we probably didn't speak about it.

"But, we both are completely aligned, and we both know Fred for many, many years, and we both trust that Fred is the right person in order to bring Ferrari back to the top. For that, we're very much aligned, so we didn't have to speak about it."

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