Leclerc found F1 'intimidating' at first

  • Published on 17 Dec 2018 09:29
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

2019 Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has admitted to finding the sport intimidating at first.  

The Monegasque driver found the first few rounds of the season difficult, not managing to score any points until the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he bagged an impressive sixth place. This form then continued throughout the season, which is what eventually earnt him his dream drive at Ferrari.  

“At the beginning, it’s first of all quite intimidating to speak to so many people,” he explained to Autosport. "Everything you are going to say is going to be analysed, not only by your engineer but by so many people. So obviously it’s quite, not scary, but intimidating as I said. But then you get used to it. And also the type of feedback you give, you can be a lot more precise with everything you say because there are a lot more people in the background.

“I remember finding the first races extremely long in Formula 1 compared to Formula 2,” he said. So this is something also that you need to get used to. After 20 laps you think that the finish is two laps away and then they tell you ‘Okay, 40 laps to go’ and you’re [like] ‘that’s quite long!’” 

Leclerc will partner Sebastian Vettel next year at Ferrari, replacing Kimi Raikkonen who returns to Sauber. Speaking last week, the 21-year-old said that he "would like" to win in Monaco and Monza, two races that mean a lot to him.

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 20:29

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 20:29

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 1,480
  • Podiums 56
  • Grand Prix 161
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (37)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, DE
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar