Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari criticism evokes memories of Alain Prost’s sacking

David Coulthard doubts the relationship between Ferrari and Charles Leclerc will deteriorate in a fashion similar to Alain Prost’s over 30 years ago.

Following another tough weekend for Ferrari in which Leclerc could only manage fourth despite issues for a car from each of the Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Mercedes teams, David Coulthard has downplayed the possibility of Ferrari being annoyed with the Monégasque.

Following the qualifying session in which Ferrari had sent Leclerc out on intermediates as the track dried in Q2, not the first time the Scuderia have made a strategic faux pas, Leclerc made his feelings clear after the session.

“When the track is so dry and we are staying on the inter tyres, we are not making our life any easier,” he said.

“So, we will, again, discuss with the team but we need to do a step forward now because it’s not the first time that it happens. We are quite often on the wrong side of making those decisions in those tricky situations.

“I had a clear opinion and a clear intuition and we went for something opposite. That was obviously frustrating to accept it first then you’re putting yourself in a very difficult situation. From that moment on, basically it’s slipped away from us.

“Having said that, it’s not all on that because other drivers managed to go to Q3 doing exactly the same thing as I did but, again, we are just making our life way too difficult.”

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Discussing the current dynamic between Ferrari and Leclerc on the Formula For Success podcast, Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard commented on how the situation is similar to how Alain Prost became critical of Ferrari’s car in 1991 – resulting in the then-three-time World Champion being promptly fired.

“I really thought [Fred Vasseur] would make a difference, he has not,” Jordan said.

“If anything, it’s gone backwards. I’ve never heard Charles Leclerc be so critical of a team as he was this weekend.

“Leclerc was critical of the team. Have you ever heard that before? Yes, Alain Prost in 1991. Do you know what happened? Yeah, he got fired! I was there [on the grid].”

Coulthard said that the situation is unlikely to devolve to the point where the team look to get rid of Leclerc.

“That’s a good point, he got fired for saying the car was a dog or donkey or something like that,” Coulthard responded to Jordan.

“I’ll tell you what – the day Ferrari fire Charles Leclerc is a day that’s never going to be seen because he is a talent – no question – and that talent just needs the last little bit.

“The icing on the cake will be when he gets into being a regular winner, and then the confidence will grow and I’m sure we’re gonna see great things from him in the future.”

While Jordan was critical of Ferrari’s direction under Vasseur, Coulthard defended the Frenchman by saying he needs more time to guide the Scuderia.

“I’m going to give Fred the benefit of the doubt because of the old expression ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’,” he said.

“He’s only been there for a few months. In Fred I trust, and I think a strong Formula 1 needs a strong Ferrari.”