Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has attributed his on-track difficulties to the management of the Ferrari team, responding to recent comments from team boss Frederic Vasseur.
Earlier this month, Vasseur expressed concern over Leclerc’s performance, stating that he had pushed “beyond the limit” and made mistakes while driving.
Leclerc, however, defended his actions and shifted the blame to Ferrari, asserting that the team’s poor car performance forced him to push harder on track.
The Monegasque driver explained that when faced with a more challenging car, as has been the case during the early part of this season, mistakes can occur.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
In a veiled criticism of the Scuderia team, he added, “Whenever there is something missing, I am trying to find something that is not there. I will always try to push the limit.”
Ferrari is currently enduring a difficult season, a stark contrast to their title battle with Max Verstappen just a year ago.
The Italian team has slipped from being runners-up to the fourth fastest team on the grid, with both Mercedes and Aston Martin showing superior pace.
The British Grand Prix was a forgettable weekend for Ferrari, with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz plummeting down the order on Sunday.
Despite starting in the top five, they finished in ninth and tenth place, respectively, collecting only three points.
They even found themselves trailing Williams’ Alex Albon, who executed a brilliant overtaking move on Sainz in the closing stages of the race.
Bernie Collins, former Aston Martin strategist and host of Sky Sports F1, described Ferrari’s performance as “borderline unacceptable.”
Vasseur has been critical of Leclerc this season, highlighting his shortcomings.
Leclerc’s crash during qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix, as a result of pushing too hard, was a recent example.
Vasseur expressed, “Charles, on the other hand, is capable of doing magic in qualifying, of going further.
“But he sometimes goes beyond the limit, always seeking the maximum even when the car cannot give it.
“He always wants to win, so he can make mistakes like at the beginning of the season.
“We talked about it together.”
READ: ‘How on earth?’: Red Bull slam Lewis Hamilton’s idea
Despite the challenges, Ferrari may need to address Leclerc’s contract sooner than anticipated, as there have been rumours of interest from other top teams.
According to Formu1a.uno, Red Bull has approached both Leclerc and Lando Norris regarding potential moves.
Earlier in the season, Leclerc was also linked with a move to Mercedes, although he denied having held talks with Toto Wolff.