Charles Leclerc removes social media applications following "ridiculous" speculation about Fred Vasseur.
Charles Leclerc has disclosed that he has removed all social media apps from his phone to distance himself from external "silly rumours" concerning Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.
Recent speculation about Vasseur's role within the Maranello team led the Frenchman to acknowledge after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that the team was not functioning with its usual "serenity."
When questioned about the influence of the rumours during media day prior to the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Leclerc stated that although he has distanced himself from the chatter, the ongoing rumours inevitably affect the team.
"Honestly, personally, I deleted everything related to social media," Leclerc remarked. "So I don't really see much of what's happening around. But naturally, you pick up on what's going on and many people from the team are aware of the situation, and that certainly disrupts the team's serenity."
"However, at the end of the day, this is something we have limited control over, and we need to focus on maximizing our results regardless."
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
In light of the increasing speculation surrounding Vasseur, Ferrari's management issued a statement reaffirming their support for the team leader.
"I've always expressed how much I trust Fred and how crucial he is for the team," Leclerc added. "We share a very unique relationship, but beyond that, I believe he is exceptionally skilled at what he does. He has proven to be extremely valuable so far, and I am confident he will continue to be invaluable in the years ahead."
"As for the support, there has never been any uncertainty within the team about his backing. Sometimes, it's necessary to clarify this to the outside world as well. But honestly, that doesn’t matter much to me. I know where we stand within the team, and that’s what counts most."
"I just hope that there are fewer of these absurd rumours circulating at times."
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