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“Only 1 Champ Here”: Fans Turn Joey Logano’s Rendezvous With Charles Leclerc & Co. Into Mockery of Ferrari

Published 11/16/2023, 9:11 AM EST

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A few days ago, two sporting worlds collided. Four Formula 1 drivers and four PGA Tour golfers came together to compete in the inaugural Netflix Cup, a golfing event. The pairing of Carlos Sainz and Justin Thomas took home the trophy (that Sainz, in Lando Norris fashion, broke). As the Las Vegas GP weekend kicked off, F1 collided with another sport—or rather, another motorsport series—NASCAR. This time, it was Ferrari drivers Sainz and Charles Leclerc meeting two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano. Unlike The Netflix Cup—where a Ferrari driver received praise for his performance—the NASCAR crossover only ended in Ferrari mockery.

When was the last time Ferrari won a championship? It won the Drivers’ Championship in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen. Felipe Massa would say the WDC in 2008 with him, but that’s beside the point. When was the last time Ferrari had a race-winning car? 2022. Despite that, Ferrari messed up its strategies and suffered mechanical failures, taking itself out of the fight. When was the last time Ferrari won a race? The 2023 Singapore GP with Carlos Sainz, but it was only because Red Bull was off-kilter. What about Charles Leclerc?

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The thing with Leclerc is that, in recent times, his Ferrari-related stats haven’t been in his favor. His last race win? The 2022 Austrian GP. At the Mexican GP, the Monegasque secured his 22nd career pole and holds the record for most poles without a championship. He’s converted a pole to a win only four times, none of which have come in his 10 most recent attempts. 

Needless to say, he’s in dire need of race- and championship-winning lessons (at least that’s what the Tifosi think). And so is Ferrari. So when Joey Logano visited the Scuderia’s garage during the Las Vegas GP, the Tifosi had a few requests for the two-time NASCAR champion.

Charles Leclerc needs “tips to win” the Las Vegas GP (and any race, for that matter)

The Las Vegas Street Circuit has Monza-esque qualities. Considering Ferrari did well in Monza, it should have good form even in Vegas. The cold temperatures could also work in Leclerc & Co.’s favor, possibly giving them another chance at victory. But given Leclerc’s recent track record, Joey Logano has some work to do. The Team Penske driver posted a picture with Leclerc and Sainz on Instagram, writing, “Great to see the innovation and technology @shell brings to @f1 just like they do for my @shell @pennzoil team. Thanks for the tour @charles_leclerc @carlossainz55.”

 

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A post shared by Joey Logano (@joeylogano)

The Tifosi saw the opportunity and took it. “great.. now teach them how to drive,” wrote one fan. After a fluctuation of performances at Team Penske, Logano finally won his first championship in 2018. It’s been a lot of misery and very little success for Ferrari in the recent past. So it makes sense that Ferrari fans want Logano to help.

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“Only one champ here.” As brutal a blow as that may be to Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, it’s nothing but the facts. Logano is the only champion in the picture.

The Las Vegas GP could be Leclerc and Sainz’s final chance to win a race in 2023. In light of that, “@joeylogano give them some tips to win a race 😅”

Well, at least Sainz has gotten a win this season, like Logano. One fan took the opportunity to mock Leclerc for it. “I love this picture of two race winners in 2023 and Charles Leclerc.”

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If winning championships is one of the criteria to be called a GOAT, it’s bad news for the Ferrari boys. “The GOAT with two Ferrari drivers.”

But the Tifosi hope this meeting would’ve been helpful in fulfilling that criterion for GOAT status. “Hope you’ll teach them how to become a champion 🔥”

If the Ferrari boys don’t deliver, there’s always NASCAR to watch, right? At least the Tofosi won’t have to face heartbreak there. “I got this one y’all…NASCAR > F1”

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WATCH THIS STORY | How Long Will Charles Leclerc Wait for Ferrari – Will He Leave for Some Other Team Post-2024?

Do you think Charles Leclerc and Ferrari could win the Las Vegas GP?

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Written by:

Aditi Krishnan

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Aditi is a senior F1 writer at EssentiallySports. She fell in love with F1 in 2020. It happened when her brother tuned into that first race weekend in Austria, and she knew right then and there that she had to learn everything she could about the sport.
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Edited by:

Aishwary Gaonkar