Leclerc’s race engineer changed after arguments

The strained relationship between Ferrari’s star driver Charles Leclerc and his race engineer Xavi Marcos has led to Marcos being reassigned to “other important company programs.” This development was reported in the Italian media just days before Ferrari’s home race at Imola.

Leclerc and Marcos have been working together since 2019, but recent years have seen tensions rise. According to Alessandra Retica of La Repubblica, there have been several instances, with a notable one occurring in Miami, where Leclerc expressed dissatisfaction with their collaboration and race management from the pit wall. Retica highlighted a particularly intense moment in Austin last year when Leclerc’s frustration boiled over, leading to him punching the steering wheel after a heated exchange with Marcos.

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Similar issues resurfaced in China this year when Marcos suggested changes to Leclerc’s racing lines on specific sections of the Shanghai circuit. Leclerc’s response over the radio indicated a lack of clarity regarding Marcos’s instructions.

In response to these challenges, Riccardo Adami, who previously served as Leclerc’s performance engineer until the Miami race, has assumed Marcos’s responsibilities.