Charles Leclerc will have to learn how to handle disappointment before he achieves success at Ferrari, manager Nicolas Todt has claimed.
The Monegasque is being widely tipped to make a strong impact when he steps up to the Scuderia alongside Sebastian Vettel this season, while the man himself has set a target of two wins in his first year.
However, Todt has warned Leclerc that it will likely take time before he can compete consistently at the level he desires.
“The mistake that Charles must not commit is to be impatient,” he told Italy’s Corriere dello Sport. “He is only 21 and will have to handle the disappointment of defeat, which he feels even if he is second.
“Charles always sets himself very high goals, but it will not be a problem for him.”
Also Read:
- Leclerc can rise against a ‘broken’ Vettel at Ferrari
- Barrichello: Leclerc must show mental strength to succeed at Ferrari
Todt also reminded Leclerc that, while the former F2 champion impressed during his rookie year with Sauber in 2018, he “has never been on the podium yet because he did not have a car to do it”.
That is important because, while Ferrari is expected to challenge for wins and podiums at every race this race, achieving even a target that might appear as simple as a top three finish is much harder against the very best in F1 than in any other category.