“Leclerc has more potential”- Fernando Alonso on Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel rivalry in Ferrari, which came to an end in 2020.
Fernando Alonso, who is set to return in Formula 1 with Alpine in 2021 has his opinion on the recent teammate duel at Ferrari between Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.
In a recent interview, the Spaniard’s verdict inclined towards Leclerc, leading the baton for Tifosi, while Carlos Sainz replaces the German race driver.
“A World Champion at home would have increased the pressure,” Alonso said. “But, after five years, it became clear that Seb couldn’t be their saviour [and] that Leclerc has more potential.”
In 2020, Vettel seemed to struggle with Ferrari’s car, and could only pull a podium only once, during the Turkish Grand Prix, where ironically he outclassed Leclerc at the final turn.
Optimistic about the compatriot
Meanwhile, Alonso has only positive things to say about his compatriot and the person who idolized him throughout his childhood. According to him, Sainz will be successful at Ferrari.
“Sainz must have seemed like the right driver to accompany Charles,” Alonso said. “It [Ferrari] moves in a different dimension from any other team. There is sports management, the company, the politics, and many people involved in the decisions.
“Other teams remain in F1 for 10 or 15 years, and then they go. Ferrari can’t afford it. We didn’t win, of course, but we came close to the World Championship twice fighting until the last race, I say this because nobody remembers second places.
“In 2017 and ’18 it happened with Vettel. The truth is that in the last seven years, only one team [Mercedes] has won.” In recent years, Alonso has been talking only positive about Sainz and recently also said that it would be an honour to share a podium with his landsman.
