Mario Andretti calls Charles Leclerc to Cadillac and crushes Vasseur
The Ferrari that continues to trudge through 2025 in search of its first victory of the season, a goal already largely achieved by rivals McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes, continues to turn the noses of fans and insiders alike. To both categories belongs Mario Andretti, who on the one hand has already winked at Charles Leclerc as the point man for the future Cadillac team. On the other he has already thrown down from his personal tower the Cavallino team principal, Frederic Vasseur, for this year’s disappointing results.
“Have I lost confidence in Vasseur? Yes”, Andretti admitted during the Sports Festival in Trento. And the Istrian, who won the 1978 world championship in Lotus running under the U.S. flag, emphasized his very long relationship with the Cavallino. “My dream came true when, after so many years, I returned to Ferrari in 1982 to replace Pironi. Enzo had sworn that, after Bandini, he would never have another Italian driver. I was the right compromise. I explained to him that I had not raced for over a year, but when I arrived at Fiorano I set a track record that lasted for 8 years”.
Regarding today’s Formula 1, however, Andretti has clear ideas: “Verstappen is very strong, while in McLaren it seems to me that for some reason unknown to me they favor Norris. I, on the other hand, like Piastri; he has a lot of drive. I do, however, root so much for Leclerc. And if one day he decides to change teams, he knows that in Cadillac I would take him at the’instant”.
The American team, for its debut season that will take place in 2026, has already secured two Formula 1 veterans such as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Both long “squires” of great champions, it should not be forgotten that they boast, between the two of them, a haul of 16 Formula 1 victories. And who knows if, one day, the 8 already won by Leclerc himself could be added to the list.
