Leclerc: Newey at Ferrari would be “amazing”

Charles Leclerc says that it would be “amazing” if Adrian Newey joins the Ferrari Formula 1 team after leaving Red Bull.

The Maranello outfit looks to be the most likely destination for Newey, with some Italian media reports suggesting that the deal is already done.

If it is eventually confirmed it would put Newey at Ferrari just as Lewis Hamilton joins as Leclerc’s team mate.

“I will obviously be very happy,” said Leclerc when asked about the possibility. “I think Adrian is one of those guys in the paddock that you hope to be working with one day in your career.

“We have an incredible team in Ferrari at the moment. And in the last seven to eight months, we are the team that have progressed the most. However, adding Adrian to a team like this will be amazing.”

Asked if Newey’s departure would weaken Red Bull Leclerc said: “I was surprised, I did not expect it. So it was an interesting news, and one of those news that makes a lot of noise once it’s out, as I had it everywhere on my social media.

“But yeah, will it weaken Red Bull? I mean, obviously every team’s there are lots of people involved, but some figures of a team make more difference than others. And I think Adrian is definitely one of them, as he has shown it with his path, that’s every time he’s been in a team, they’ve been very, very successful.

“It’s difficult for me to comment, because I don’t know how exactly it works within the team. But obviously Adrian being on the market of the engineers is definitely someone to watch, and someone that everybody in the paddock will want in their team.”

Leclerc is adamant that even without Newey Ferrari has made good progress under team principal Fred Vasseur.

“I think I’ve said it, in the last eight to nine months already, I think we’re in a very good moment for the team. And we are in a good spiral. Fred has always shared with me what was his medium to long term vision of the team, I have shared with him what I thought also was the right thing, and it’s going really, really well.

“I’m really happy with how it goes. And I think we are in a good place to attract the best people in the world. However, I have said it already, but we are really, really good team already.

“And in the last seven to eight months, we’ve done incredible progress. But whatever and whoever can come to make it even stronger, is super important. And Adrian is one of those guys that can make a difference.”

Leclerc stressed that getting the right people on board is one of Vasseur strengths.

“I think Fred’s vision and his ability to put the people in the right environments in order to extract the best out of everyone is something really, really amazing,” he said. “And that has made the difference, together with a very clear vision on which are the main points on which we need to focus.

“Again, it’s very, very clear, which are the points that needs to be improved, and tackled in the next few months.

“And that helps the team to have a clearer vision, and to really put all the energy on one or two things only. But then you really see the gains straight away, which is a good thing. So clarity, and putting the people in the best environment possible to extract the best out of them.”