F1 Austrian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc denies Ferrari bust-up - so why did Mattia Binotto privately visit him?

Charles Leclerc says there is no “division in the team” after a private dinner with Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto this week.
Charles Leclerc (MON)
Charles Leclerc (MON)

Leclerc was visibly annoyed by Ferrari’s strategy at lasꦐt weekend’s F1 British Grand Prix which caused him to fall from first to fourth-plaไce - then watch teammate Carlos Sainz win the race.

Suggestions then emer🍌ged that some Ferrari team members opted against joining a celebratory photo with Sainz - which Leclerc denies.

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Leclerc🔥 was visited by Binotto in Monaco and, ahead of the F1 Austrian Grand Prix, said about rumours of rifts within Ferrari: “This is untrue and I wish I didn’t get this [question], because it’s the exact question that I’ve got everywhere🥂 else.

“I wish I wouldn’t 🐲need to fight for this type of thing. We are extremely united.

“Is there disappointment afte🌊r the last race because we finಌished first and fourth? Yes there was. 

“Were we very happy t✨hat Carlos won his first race? Yes we were, honestly.

“But obviously before the safety car you were first and second and you finished th💮e race first and fourth so there’s some kind of disappointment too.

“[There’s] not any kind of division in the team.”

Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Preparation
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix,…

Why did Ferrari boss Binotto visit Leclerc?

Binotto was spotted wagging his finger at an annoyed L𓄧eclerc after t🅰he British Grand Prix.

“Heꦡ was first quite an🧸gry with me after Silverstone because he saw me extremely down which obviously he understood but he just wanted to make sure that I was OK,” Leclerc said.

“And I realised that OK, I had done an amazing job considering the💖 situation that I had 🍬found myself in after the safety car.”

Leclerc has❀ not been on the podium for f𒀰ive races. The early championship leader is now trailing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the title fight.

He explained being visi💖ted by Binotto: “Then in Monaco, something we usually do, he came to Monaco because the last five races have been quite hard on me, and I just wanted to stay at home and disconnect a bit from everything, to be fully 100% for this weekend.

“He just came to M🃏onaco to speak about the last five races and to make sure it was all fine on my side.”

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