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Fred Vasseur has disagreed with Charles Leclerc’s verdict on his Barcelona Grand Prix following Lewis Hamilton’s clinching of his first Grand Prix victory in Ferrari colours.
While it was pure elation for Lewis Hamilton at the Montmelo-based circuit, it was even more heartbreak for Charles Leclerc, who retired from the race in the latter stages for the second weekend running.
Your championship standings after the Barcelona GP. How worried should Kimi Antonelli be about Lewis Hamilton?
The 28-year-old was running in P6 at the time disaster struck, and was on course to be beaten by his teammate for the fourth consecutive race weekend.
- READ MORE: Charles Leclerc told he’s ‘starting to suffer’ from behind-the-scenes change Lewis Hamilton has made
Fred Vasseur praises Charles Leclerc’s Barcelona GP pace despite him saying there was ‘nothing’ to be happy about
In comments collected by Sky Sports Germany following the chequered flag, Leclerc carved a forlorn figure inside the media pen yet again.
Lewis Hamilton is now only missing a Grand Prix pole position for Ferrari 🏆 Predict when it will come?
It comes after a Canadian Grand Prix that the Monegasque driver labelled as the worst weekend of his career, and a home Grand Prix at Monaco in which he ignited a dispute with Ferrari’s long-time brakes supplier, Brembo, after crashing out of the race.
Inside the media pen in Barcelona, he was asked for the most positive aspect of his race, to which he replied, “There isn’t much to be positive about. The only positive for the team is Lewis’s win. Lewis has been truly outstanding in the last three or four races.
“Now it’s up to me to get back on track. The team has brought in some great upgrades and provided us with a car that’s capable of doing the job. Now I have to deliver.”
Leclerc’s mental coach previously outlined how hard he is on himself after poor performances, and that has been magnified due to a streak of tough form in recent weeks.
However, in the eyes of team boss Fred Vasseur, Leclerc’s pace was very strong, but he was just unlucky in terms of track position, and, of course, his eventual power steering failure that saw him prematurely retire from the race.
He told the German broadcasters, “Towards the end, his pace was similar to Lewis’s. It was difficult to find clear air. If you make three pit stops, you take a bigger risk because you have to overtake again.
“But depending on where you are on the track, it can work out very well. It worked out for Lewis.”
- READ MORE: Piero Ferrari makes big Charles Leclerc prediction after Lewis Hamilton’s Barcelona GP win
Fred Vasseur reacts to ’emotional’ victory for Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona
Vasseur was, naturally, also asked for his immediate thoughts on Hamilton’s victory at the Montmelo-based circuit.
It proved to be a full circle moment, with the Frenchman also there to congratulate the Briton after his very first victory in the GP2 series in 2006, when both were employed by ART Grand Prix.
He said, “It was very emotional, but mentally I was still focused on the race. We definitely had a few ups and downs. It’s good for everyone that we came back and won today.
This is the best start to the European season: second in Monaco, second in Canada, and now the win. That was really impressive.”
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