Ferrari fans declare Charles Leclerc is the ‘GOAT’ after incredible statistic emerges from the Japanese Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc is on the cusp of being considered a legendary Ferrari driver as he enters his seventh season with the team.

Very few drivers managed to survive that many campaigns with Ferrari, particularly if they’ve never won a drivers’ championship.

However, Charles Leclerc fits into that category, having supported the team through a period of time where they’ve always been considered challengers without being outright favourites.

Leclerc saw off four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel during his first few campaigns with the Scuderia before forming a formidable partnership with Carlos Sainz.

When Lewis Hamilton decided he wanted to move to Ferrari, it was the Spaniard rather than Leclerc who was asked to make way for the most successful driver in the sport’s history.

The 27-year-old Leclerc started his 150th F1 race at the Japanese Grand Prix, and has eight wins and 26 pole positions to his name.

Many fans found the race in Japan dull, with Leclerc one of eight drivers who started and finished the race in the same position out of those who qualified in the top 10.

However, his haul of 12 points meant he snatched a record from his previous teammate Vettel, that is unlikely to be broken for some time.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Charles Leclerc becomes Ferrari’s highest points scorer after the Japanese Grand Prix

Leclerc’s tally now stands at 1,411 after the race at Suzuka, surpassing Vettel’s tally of 1,400.

Posting on social media, Ferrari’s official account said: “Our leading points scorer. Charles Leclerc has now scored the most points for Scuderia Ferrari HP.”

There were plenty of replies from fans, with one stating, “Give him the rocketship car he deserves.”

Another simply called him, “King Charles,” while one comment read, “That’s my GOAT.”

Many fans took this as an opportunity to demand more from Ferrari, with one reply reading, “He’s suffering this season. Hopefully, the updates in Bahrain have an impact.”

One fan exclaimed, “How many others have you made him lose because you are incompetent?”, while another comment said, “Please, listen to him, don’t make him go away because you can’t deliver a good car.”

One fan highlighted that Leclerc now deserves to add a championship to his name with Ferrari after breaking the record, stating, “If anyone deserves to win the championship with you guys, it’s Charles. I just hope you can get your stuff together to give him the best car.”

Finally, one fan pointed out the obvious when it comes to the modern points-scoring system and admitted, “Would be Schumi if the points system hadn’t changed.”

READ MORE: The best moments of Charles Leclerc’s career in Formula 1

Who are Ferrari’s top points-scoring drivers in Formula 1 history?

Formula 1’s points-scoring systems have changed several times over the years, but the biggest shift happened in 2010.

The season Michael Schumacher, who should be Ferrari’s top scoring driver, returned with Mercedes, Formula 1 decided to award 25 points for a win, rather than 10 points, which had been introduced in 1991.

It was only in 2003 that more than six drivers were awarded points, and now half the grid are able to add to their tally if they finish the race.

Leclerc is therefore joined by a host of more modern drivers on the list, including his old teammate Sainz.

The likes of Felipe Massa, Rubens Barrichello and Fernando Alonso also feature despite never winning a championship with the Scuderia.

It speaks volumes about just how dominant Niki Lauda was during the 1970s that he makes the list, while Gerhard Berger’s longevity helps him sneak into the top 10.