Ferrari ambassador Marc Gene has argued that thoughts about a championship assault are now “unavoidable” for the famous Maranello outfit, even if team boss Frederic Vasseur would prefer it not to be the case.
Charles Leclerc gave the Scuderia their second victory of the season – after team mate Carlos Sainz’s triumph in Australia – at last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, with the result also marking his first win on home soil.
Given Red Bull’s struggles around the tight, twisty streets of Monte Carlo, which limited Max Verstappen to a sixth-place finish, both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings are looking much closer as the campaign rolls on to Canada.
Indeed, Verstappen’s lead over Leclerc is now down to 31 points, while Ferrari, who scored a double podium in the Principality thanks to Sainz’s P3 finish, are just 24 points behind Red Bull.
In an appearance on the F1 Nation podcast, long-time Ferrari employee Gene spoke at length about Leclerc’s home win, and what it means for both the driver and team.