Ferrari is witnessing a ‘2.0’ version of Charles Leclerc in 2022, according to the team’s long-time test driver Marc Gene.
Leclerc took victory at the opening round of the year in Bahrain, winning out over Max Verstappen following a battle that lasted several laps.
In Jeddah, the Monegasque driver was leading in the closing stages, before being passed by Verstappen and crossing the finish line just half a second behind the Red Bull driver.
Speaking to the F1 Nation podcast, Gene says he spent time with Leclerc during pre-season testing and witnessed an improved version of the three-time grand prix winner.
“Charles, he used to be very emotional and this year he has changed a lot,” Gene said. “Charles is like a 2.0 version of himself.
“When I went to Barcelona for the private testing, we spent a lot of time together and he was completely changed in his mindset and his mentality, and you can see it.”
“[In Bahrain] I was expecting Charles to be more over the moon after qualifying, after the pole, and the race, but he seemed so much more mature and aware that this is a very long championship.”
Ferrari has not won a Championship since 2008, but currently leads both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings after the opening two rounds.
Gene has commended the current atmosphere within the squad, praising Team Principal Mattia Binotto as well as Carlos Sainz.
“I think Mattia, Charles and Carlos are going to be very important in keeping these emotions that we Italians, we tend to have,” he said. “So, I leave that to the tifosi.
“But the three main characters of this team, which are the two drivers and the Team Principal, they are not emotional – Mattia is half Swiss. [The calmness you can see with Carlos, it comes from his father.”
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