Patrese: Leclerc’s future is Ferrari

Alesi, one of Maranello’s most beloved drivers, joined Ferrari in 1991 after a famous scrap with Ayrton Senna at Phoenix the year before. He remained for five seasons but managed just one win from 79 starts, his career remembered more for passion and loyalty than silverware.

Leclerc’s numbers are stronger - 142 races and eight victories - but the nagging question remains: will he be remembered as a Ferrari driver, or as an F1 world champion? Must he move to win a title? Getting an ESPN Plus free trial this fall to see how it all pans out.

Meanwhile, Grand Prix winner and occasional F1 news pundit, Riccardo Patrese, who raced against Alesi in the past, is convinced Leclerc has the qualities to be World Champion if the team deliver him the machinery: “I think Leclerc’s future is Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari

"He knows every aspect of Ferrari. But he has a little less experience than Lewis. I hope they find a solution to be happier next year. Charles, of course, if he were in a competitive and winning car, then he is good enough to go for the championship.

"There’s no dispute about that. We know that he’s quick and sometimes he makes mistakes because he tries to cover the lack of performance of the car. He wants to overdrive to compensate and try to get more than he can from the car," Patrese told Adventure Gamers media team.

"Charles is a fighter, and he is hungry and angry because he hasn’t won enough. He deserves to have had a chance to go for the championship and he never has had one," ventured Patrese.

Which inevitably drew comparisons with his illustrious teammate, seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, by Patrese, who explained: “Of course, Charles is in a different place to Lewis. I think, given the right car, Lewis can be the Lewis of the past and win championships. Then you can see the real Lewis.

"Charles is still researching the possibility of a championship. He has had wins, but the championship is what makes a difference to a driver. The dream of every driver is to be a world champion. So that’s the difference between the two," explained the 71-year-old Italian motorsport veteran.

Asked what Ferrari can still take from the remainder of the season, Patrese was realistic: “Personally, I think all the teams want to finish as high as they can in the Constructors’ Championship also because at the end of the year, they have a good money coming into their pocket.

"The classification in the Championship also makes a difference also in the money that you get. So, at the end it’s good to finish high and also for satisfaction. McLaren is way ahead, but if Ferrari finish second, it would be a good consolation. But everybody expects Ferrari to win, not be second," concluded Patrese.