MONZA: Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says the Italian team’s latest race winner Charles Leclerc reminds him of the Niki Lauda of the 1970s. The 21-year-old Monegasque took his first Formula One victory in Belgium last weekend, also becoming Ferrari’s youngest ever winner, and has impressed with his calm under pressure and speed. Speaking to reporters at an event in Milan on Wednesday evening to mark Ferrari’s 90th anniversary, Montezemolo said Leclerc was quick even last year in his debut season with uncompetitive Sauber. “With Ferrari of course it’s different. He makes very few mistakes. Like Niki at the beginning, he was only conscious why he made the mistake (and how) not to repeat it,” said Montezemolo. “I think he is a very intelligent driver, very quick. Not only on one lap but also in the race. I think he can maybe be the best representative of a new generation of drivers. It’s very important for Formula One.” Austrian Lauda, who died in May at the age of 70, won his first two titles with Ferrari in 1975 – at the age of 26 – and then in 1977 after an astonishing 1976 comeback from a fiery near-fatal crash. Montezemolo, who had joined as Enzo Ferrari’s assistant, was team manager at the time and had an instant rapport with the driver. Leclerc, in 13 races with Ferrari, has had three pole positions and is only 12 points behind team mate and four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel. The Monegasque has had six podium finishes, the same number as Vettel, and has stood out also for his mental strength and discipline. His win in Belgium came a day after French racer Anthoine Hubert, a friend and boyhood rival, was killed in a crash during the Formula Two feature race at Spa.
Leave a Comment