Charles Leclerc reacted to the resignation of Mattia Binotto and gave his thoughts on the suggestions Fred Vasseur will be the man to take over as Ferrari team principal.
The Italian team is once again in transition, after Binotto's resignation was announced. It brought to an end his four-year spell in charge of the team, after a 2022 season in which Ferrari had a car capable of winning the title – but strategy mistakes and reliability woes were their downfall.
And following the chaotic and underwhelming season, Binotto decided to quit. Speaking at the FIA's Prize Giving Gala in Bologna on Friday, Leclerc revealed he had been informed by the Italian over the phone.
"Mattia called me to announce that he will stop," he told reporters. "I respect his decision, and I can only thank him. He has believed in me right from the start, and he gave me a very long contract.
"Before being team principal he was already inside the Scuderia for many years and he has contributed to the success the team has had. I wish him the best, and obviously now it is up to us to focus on the future and try to take the right choices in order to be a mid more of a challenge to Red Bull next year."
Asked if he has a preference for who takes over, the Monegasque was keen to sit on the fence. He replied: "No, and I won't comment about that. But it's also not my decision – John [Elkann] and Benedetto [Vigna] are going to make that decision, we are just trying to focus on our jobs and on the simulator to have the best race car possible for next year."
One man heavily linked with the role is Alfa Romeo chief Vasseur. One report this week even claimed that the Ferrari top brass have already decided to hire the Frenchman, whose long-term future with Sauber looks uncertain with Audi set to join from 2026.
Leclerc worked with Vasseur in his one season with Sauber and had previously done so as a youngster as well. Reacting to the suggestion they could reunite for 2023, he said: "Ferrari is a very different team to any others. I can only comment on my experiences with Fred, which have been good.
"I worked with Fred already in the junior categories, where he believed in me and we always had a good relationship. This shouldn't influence any of the decisions, but he has always been very straightforward and honest and that is something I like. Whether it will be him or not, I don't know. We will see, hopefully in the next few months."
