Four-time Formula 1 champion Alain Prost fears Ferrari infighting could be their biggest hurdle in 2020.
Since the summer break, the Scuderia has emerged as a viable, consistent threat to Mercedes once again thanks a combination of their engine advantage and unlocking their chassis potential.
However, at times, that improvement has been blighted by Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel squabbling amongst themselves, particularly last month in Sochi.
“It’s a complicated situation for management,” PlanetF1 quoted Prost as telling RMC Sport,
“With his experience, Vettel was considered the number one in the team, so it’s hard to manage that. I think it’s going to be difficult, especially next year.
“I think Ferrari will be strong next year and they will have to deal with the fight between Charles and Sebastian. If the car is good and they are both fighting over the title, that could give it to Mercedes.”
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Like everyone though Prost, who drove for Ferrari for two years and currently sits as a special advisor to Renault, has been impressed with Leclerc’s performance.
“He’s already a big star,” he declared. “He has adapted very quickly to the status of No.1 or almost No.1 in a team like Ferrari who has never taken a young driver.
“This is the first time and to withstand the pressure and support very well, even if there were some difficulties at times, it still shows a quite impressive maturity.”
Something that Leclerc will have to address, however, is his tendency to lash out if situations don’t go his way, something Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport claims the Monegasque has always struggled with.
“In every test he faced, he wanted to win and when he couldn’t, he got angry,” Charles’ mental coach Riccardo Ceccarelli revealed.
“Anger is a sign of energy and motivation, but it is counterproductive if it is not controlled by the brain.
“The perfect driver who is calm but has a killer instinct. Charles had to become calmer and he trained a lot to improve. The key is self-analysis, the ability to understand and admit one’s mistakes, to overcome them.”
Ceccarelli though believes Leclerc’s mentality runs very similar to one of F1’s all-time greats.
“Out of the car he is a humble and grateful guy and a ruthless driver on the track, to me this reminds me of Ayrton Senna,” he concluded.