The talent of Charles Leclerc means Ferrari expects no regrets in not trying to sign Lewis Hamilton.
On Monday, the seven-time world champion was finally confirmed at Mercedes, but only on a one year deal for 2021.
However, late in 2019, there were indications Hamilton was showing interest in joining Ferrari after confirming a meeting with chairman John Elkann.
Ultimately, nothing came from it, with the Scuderia going on to replace Sebastian Vettel with Carlos Sainz for this season.
“I don’t think there will be regret because at the end when we took some decisions, we took them thinking they were the right decisions and today we have a fantastic driver like Charles where we invested a lot as Ferrari,” Binotto said via Sky Sports.
Also Read:
- Hamilton talked to Ferrari but ‘our positions never aligned’
- Vettel: Leclerc can be F1’s next ‘biggest star’ ahead of Verstappen
“I think he’s got a lot of talent. If he’s got the right car, I’m pretty sure he can challenge Lewis Hamilton.
“We’ve made our choices, and I think together with Carlos, we are very strong. I don’t think there will be any regret.”
The Ferrari boss hasn’t been shy in making comparisons between Leclerc and Michael Schumacher, who of course helped Ferrari to five world titles between 2000-2004.
And he explained the similarities be sees in the Monegasque and the German.
“Both are very talented drivers,” he told F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast. “I think that Charles is one driver that is certainly a talent; he’s fast, he’s capable of overtaking, he’s fantastic in protecting the position.
“I think he’s got the mentality in which winning is a clear objective for him and I think that what is pushing him in all his actions is that he will always try to win.
“He is not simply there to participate, he is there to win. And when he puts his helmet on, he is on the track as a racer – second place is never satisfactory for him, as it wasn’t for Michael.”
At the same time, however…
“Charles is a lot younger to Michael at the time,” he added.
“He needs to develop as a leader of the team, because the success of Ferrari tomorrow will be dependent as well on the way he will behave as a leader himself.
“But I think that while Michael was already a leader, Charles is developing as a leader and he is developing well.”
