Leclerc delivers mid-season Vasseur assessment

Charles Leclerc has given his assessment of Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur following his first half-season in the role.

Vasseur joined Ferrari prior to the start of the current season from Alfa Romeo, replacing Mattia Binotto.

The Frenchman has been thrown into a difficult situation at Ferrari, with the team struggling for form across the first half of the F1 campaign.

Having managed to return to the top step of the podium last year, the Italian squad hoped that it would take a step forward for the current term, but has been unable to contend at the very front of the field, taking just three podiums in the first 12 races.

Ferrari currently sits fourth in the Constructors' Championship, five points down on Aston Martin as the season enters its second half.

Vasseur 'adapting well' at Ferrari

Leclerc has a working history with Vasseur, having won the 2016 GP3 title with ART Grand Prix [co-founded by Vasseur] before the Monégasque made his F1 debut for Sauber.

With 12 grands prix under his belt at the helm of Ferrari, Leclerc has hailed Vasseur's impact at the squad.

“He’s adapting really well. I mean, Ferrari is definitely a different beast to Alfa Romeo: many more people involved; a lot more pressure,” Leclerc told media including RacingNews365.com.

“But Fred straightaway understood what were the areas where we should work on and, yes, he definitely makes a difference in a way that he's obviously working. I mean, everybody has his own way of working.

“I know Fred will work really well, because we worked together in the junior categories, in Alfa Romeo, and he's slowly implementing these new mindsets, which I think is positive and will make a difference in the medium-long term.

“But it's also his first season within the team, so we need to give him time in order to see these changes take form on track.”