Charles Leclerc believes there is "always voices around Ferrari" as he defended Formula 1 team boss Mattia Binotto, who was reported to be on his way out of Ferrari. Binotto's position as Team Principal was called into doubt this week with suggestions in Italian media that he would be relieved of command following a disappointing 2022 season for the Scuderia. Having started with two wins in three races, Ferrari's season imploded through a variety of reliability, strategic and operational errors which allowed Red Bull and Max Verstappen to run away with both titles. Ferrari's wait for a World Championship title will enter a 15th season in 2023, but Leclerc firmly backed Binotto to deliver for the Maranello squad.
Leclerc: People forget Ferrari's progress
"There are always rumours around in Formula 1 and especially around Ferrari, this doesn't change," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365.com , in Abu Dhabi. "Obviously when we are getting to the end of the season, there's always voices around us, but as a team we need to focus on our job on track and try to [block] all of the things happening around the team. "People tend to forget how big of a step we've done from last year to this year - and there is definitely another step that we need to do. "But we will do it together and starting with this race to hopefully finish on a high this season. Apart from that, there's nothing more to say. "I don't think we should give so much attention to it. "It is a big statement made by the media but, again, they remain rumours. For the team itself, it is not great to read this [type of] thing. "It is good that the team has cleared the air and I don't think we should give so much attention to it."
Leclerc wants stability
Binotto has been in charge of Ferrari since 2019, replacing former boss Maurizio Arrivabene in the role of Team Principal. Under his stewardship, Ferrari slipped back into the midfield with its 2020 car. Despite a minor revival the following year, the team still went winless in 2021. A fully focused assault on this season's revamp of the technical regulations yielded their more successful 2022 challenger. Rather than bringing in a new face, Leclerc is keen for the team to remain stable by keeping Binotto in post. "I think the stability is paying off," he explained. "We've been showing in the last few years that we are improving, and as I was saying earlier, there's another step that we need to do. "We are working on that, and I'm sure we'll achieve it."
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