Charles Leclerc doesn’t write off Mercedes: “They will win races this season”. Charles doesn't write off Mercedes.

Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc was interviewed by English sports presenter on CNN International Amanda Davies in Miami, ahead of the Miami Grand Prix which takes place this weekend. The interview will be live on CNN Sports at 8:30 am (ET) / 1:30 pm (GMT)

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

Do you write Mercedes off?
Charles Leclerc: “I never write them off because they are such a strong team and they have showed it in the past.
But it is also true that they are struggling since the beginning of the season. And they seem to have quite big issues that will require a bit of the time before they fix them. So I don‘t know. Maybe not for the championship this year, but I am pretty sure they will win races at some time in the season.”

Do you see it as a two-horse race between yourself and Max this season?
Charles Leclerc: “No, because Checo is extremely close. Carlos has been a bit unlucky and maybe now he is getting there too. But I think it will be inbetween us four.”

Does it feel different leading in the front and being the championship leader?
Charles Leclerc: “Yes, compared to 2019 a lot. In 2019, every time I found myself in the lead, to be completely honest I don’t think I was completely in control of the situation. Obviously a lot of emotions, I was leading the first laps of my career, something I dreamt of doing since I was child, being a Ferrari driver in the first year. There were a lot of emotions. This year everything is a lot more controlled. I know why we are here, I know everything we have done to arrive at this point of fighting for the championship. I know what to do to win races.”

Are you allowing yourself to enjoy it?
Charles Leclerc: “Yes, and the day I will stop enjoying it I will stop. I love my job, love driving, this was what I always dreamt to do, and now I am in Formula 1 with the best team in the world in my opinion, Ferrari, fighting for wins, life is great! I am definitely going to the track with a big smile on my face. Because I am obviously in a much happier place than last year. Going to the track and knowing you have the opportunity to win feels amazing. When I wake up for race day especially, just a lot of the things that I need to do for the race are going through my head.”

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How tough were the last couple of years, how did you keep the faith?
Charles Leclerc: “I mean it’s difficult, of course you got times when you feel down, but every time I felt down, I just thought about 2019 and how it felt to win and that gave me the extra motivation. To just get back at it and work harder than ever to think about the good the days that will be there after, if we do a good job and I think everyone had that mentality in the team. I never lost faith and motivation.”