Jean Alesi on Ferrari star Charles Leclerc: “Struggling more than ever”

Charles Leclerc headed into the Formula 1 summer break in fourth place in the World Championship. The Monegasque driver has made it onto the podium four times during the first eleven race weekends of the current season: at the season opener in Melbourne and at the third race in Japan, he crossed the finish line in third place on both occasions.

It was at his team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s home race, of all places, on the venerable Silverstone Circuit, that he secured his first Grand Prix victory of the year. He was also able to celebrate from the podium at the subsequent race on the demanding Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, though he had to concede victory to championship leader Kimi Antonelli, crossing the finish line in second place himself.

He finished fourth in the most recent race at the Hungaroring, after his team-mate Hamilton had dropped back to fifth place following a 5-second time penalty. The seven-time world champion had received this penalty for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane.

Jean Alesi is certain: Leclerc has not yet found the right feel

Leclerc is calling on his team to continue developing the car. However, he is also practising self-criticism. After the race in Hungary, for instance, he pointed to his poor start, which he had made from the front row on used soft tyres.

Jean Alesi, however, believes the problem runs much deeper. The 62-year-old from Avignon writes in his analysis in the *Corriere della Sera*: “Leclerc is struggling more than ever; I don’t think he has the right feel for the car, and I hope he can sort out his problems.”