Ex-pilot identifies problem

Gloomy forecast: “Leclerc will be eaten up”

Few would dare deny that he is one of the most talented drivers in the world. And yet the gap between Charles Leclerc and the world championship title is huge. Former driver Robert Doornbos claims to know the reason for this.

"Charles Leclerc is too sweet to become Formula 1 world champion. Leclerc can't do what Hamilton or Verstappen can," the Dutchman is convinced. The fact that the Monegasque will have a seven-time champion, Lewis Hamilton, at his side next year does not exactly make the situation any better.

Too nice
"Let's assume Ferrari builds the best car for the coming GP season. Then he will be eaten up by Hamilton," says Doornbos. "Leclerc simply lacks a certain roughness, that perch when it comes to mistakes or dealing with his engineers."

Although Leclerc is the best non-Red Bull driver in third place in the drivers' championship, the 26-year-old is already 34 points behind leader Verstappen after five races. Doornbos is firmly convinced that Leclerc would benefit from a little more cool-headedness in the battle for the top spot.