Riccardo Ceccarelli says Charles Leclerc is quick to forgive the Ferrari pit wall when mistakes happen, but he tends to be much harder on himself.
Ceccarelli and his Formula Medicine team have known Leclerc since he was 11. From karting all the way up to Formula One with Ferrari, Leclerc has continued to lean on their support throughout his career. He joined Ferrari’s F1 lineup in 2019.
Leclerc also came through the Ferrari Driver Academy, which he joined in 2016. Over time, there have been visible tensions between him and the team, often stemming from disagreements over race strategies.
There were moments when those calls cost him dearly, too. Through three rounds of the 2026 season, Leclerc was still searching for a win after last tasting victory at the 2024 United States Grand Prix. In Australia that March, an early virtual safety car came and went without a pit stop from Ferrari, leaving him to settle for third place.
But while Leclerc may feel aggrieved by Ferrari’s pit wall at times, Ceccarelli notes that he is quicker to “forgive” others for their mistakes than his own. That was the case at Albert Park, as Leclerc claimed the VSC did not stop Ferrari from winning the Australian GP this March.
“Charles Leclerc has a knack for mentally tapping into his talent when it’s needed – and that certainly helps him pull everything together in a flying lap,” Ceccarelli told Motorsport.com.
“But the modern athlete relies on intelligence and an open mind – the ability to tackle every challenge with humility and analytical skill. The strength lies in constantly questioning oneself, in the awareness that there is always room for improvement.
“Leclerc is someone who, when he makes a mistake, doesn’t let it go for two days and just sits there thinking about it.
“Whereas if, for example, his pit wall makes a mistake, he’s over it after two hours. He’s more inclined to forgive those who’ve let him down, whilst he’s incredibly hard on himself.”
It was even reported after Ferrari’s strategy cost Leclerc a chance to win the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix that sporting director Diego Loverno rushed to stop him from sharing his protests in full. Ferrari fearing excessive plank wear wrecked their only chance to win a race last year.
Leclerc would rather bite his tongue in the moment and forgive Ferrari’s pit wall whenever they make a mistake, even if it affects his chances to win – like in Australia. He was leading the Australian GP ahead of the eventual winner, Mercedes’ George Russell before the VSC.
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