Sebastian Vettel has claimed that Ferrari’s competitive decline during his latter seasons with the team in Formula 1 helped Charles Leclerc gain the upper hand.
Leclerc was promoted to a works Ferrari drive in 2019 alongside Vettel, who had spent the preceding two campaigns in title contention against Lewis Hamilton.
But while Ferrari looked to have constructed a strong package in pre-season, Mercedes proceeded to dominate the opening races and won both championships.
Regardless, Leclerc still outscored Vettel 260-244, taking two wins to the German’s one, culminating in Ferrari opting not to renew his deal beyond the 2020 season.
With Ferrari’s competitiveness hobbled in 2020, Vettel experienced a nightmare season with the underpowered SF1000, scoring a mere 33 points to Leclerc’s 98.
Vettel, who would see out his F1 career with two campaigns at Aston Martin, has now admitted that he was no longer operating at his peak when Leclerc came in.
“I came to Formula 1 in 2006, ‘07 and I would say already by 2010 – obviously I won the championship – I was sort of at my peak,” he told the Beyond the Grid podcast.
“But then in 2011, I was much more ready to win the championship than I was in 2010, for example, and then probably strong years, obviously winning the championship.
“2015 was a very strong year, ’17, ’18 – and then ’19 and in fairness ’20, I was on my way down already.
“I’m happy to say that now because I didn’t have that, really, last ultimate push anymore.”
Vettel recounts Leclerc relationship at Ferrari
Vettel believes Ferrari’s tribulations in 2019 had a bigger mental impact on him, as the SF-90 still proved to be an upgrade on what Leclerc had been accustomed to.
“Charles had so much energy,” he pointed out. “In fairness I was spoiled – I mean, I won four championships, I won so many races, I had so many poles, whatever.
“All I was interested in was winning, and that’s the sort of athlete I was: I wanted to win, I wanted the biggest trophy, I wanted that moment on the podium where I knew I won the race, I wanted the Monday morning feeling of ‘I won the last race and feel so good’, but the feeling doesn’t last long enough so you’ve got to win another one.
“And Charles came in, and when we finished fifth and sixth he was over the moon with a fifth and sixth, because [it was a] different stage of his career and the first time in a competitive car. I think that’s when I started to struggle a bit.
“Then 2020 comes along, really awkward year with COVID, we’re not racing, I get this fantastic break that I never had and enjoyed it so much with the family.
“At the same time [I was] becoming aware with the kids growing of problems in the world and how they started to affect me and I’m reflecting them.
“I would say at that time I was probably not on the peak anymore.”
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