Charles Leclerc highlights 'very important' factor in Ferrari re-signing 'funny' Fred Vasseur

Charles Leclerc insists the stability of Fred Vasseur staying with Ferrari is "very important" for the health and future of the Italian team.

The 56-year-old was handed a multi-year contract extension in July, putting to rest any lingering doubt about the safety of his job as team principal at the Scuderia.

Prior to that, there had been considerable noise surrounding his position, with rumours circulating that then-Red Bull boss Christian Horner was being tapped up for the role.

However, the Frenchman has been - and will continue to be - an integral part of Ferrari plan to restore itself to its former glory.

The Prancing Horse came painfully close to securing a first constructors' championship since 2008 last year, and the nucleus of Leclerc, Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton is known to be strong at the centre of the Maranello-based squad.

Although the current campaign has broadly been viewed as a let-down, in large part due to the sky-high expectations at the start of the season with Hamilton joining straight after the team finished just 14 points behind McLaren in the standings, Ferrari is still second in the constructors' fight and Leclerc is "optimistic for the future" with Vasseur now definitely staying put.

"I'm not the one making the decisions, but I think stability is always very important," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365. 

"Fred is the person we look up to and the person leading the team. To have him for many more years is definitely a good thing, also because in Formula 1 it takes time to build something, especially a successful team.

"I'm very happy about that. Knowing that I'll be able to have Fred alongside me for more years makes me optimistic for the future."

Lightening 'difficult situations'

The eight-time grand prix winner touched upon Vasseur's sense of humour, an ingredient he believes to be central to making the team feel like a "family."

He pointed to how his boss' approach can help "lighten" difficult scenarios that arise.

"He's definitely very funny," the Monegasque driver said of Vasseur. "I'm sure it plays a part in the team.

"We've got some very funny guys within the team as well. However, we are obviously here to work. It helps. Whenever we have team dinners, we are having a good time, and it really feels like a family. For me, it definitely feels like a family.

"I've been growing up in Ferrari basically, and I'm still there. Fred has integrated into the team extremely well. Now he's leading it with his sense of humour as well, which sometimes can lighten some difficult situations.

"Again, I'm really happy about Fred's reconfirmation within the team."