Now in his seventh season with Ferrari, Charles Leclerc finds himself in the unusual position of being both the veteran and, for once, somewhat in the shadows. Overshadowed by the accolades of his new teammate, he maintains his usual wise smile—eager to start the Formula 1 season and restore some balance within the garage and the headlines. Here is the Monegasque driver’s latest interview for the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Looking back at last season, points were lost after the development phase between Montreal and Silverstone. What needs to improve this year?
“We need to start stronger, staying up front with the top teams from the very beginning. Last year, we weren’t fast enough at the start, but overall, the season was excellent.”
To be direct: will you be fighting for the title?
“It’s obviously too early to say, but if the car is consistently competitive, I believe so. This season will be very tight, with many title contenders. But I believe in myself and my ability to get it done.”
Are you surprised by the overwhelming enthusiasm surrounding Ferrari this year?
“No. Ferrari has always had massive attention, but with Lewis, everything has exploded—it’s normal. It was fantastic to see all that passion at Fiorano, and we take it as a positive. Lewis arrived at the right moment, and Fred will know how to keep emotions at the right level. We’ll be much stronger than in previous years.”
How is it working with Lewis?
“We haven’t spent much time together yet, but I can already say that it’s incredibly valuable for me to analyze how he works, to hear his feedback with the engineers, and to see what he focuses on. He’s the most successful driver in history, so of course, I’m trying to learn as much as I can.”
Will it be a tough challenge?
“The toughest of my career. Having him as a teammate is a great motivation—not only to learn, as I said, but also to prove what I can do. I can’t wait.”
Will age work in your favor?
“I don’t know—I don’t know what it feels like to be his age. But I don’t think so—he looks in great shape and is clearly very motivated.”
In what ways are you similar, and in what ways are you different?
“We have a very similar driving style, which is great because we’ll need the same things from the car. But in terms of fashion, we’re completely different—he’s very into it, and I’m much less so.”
Will you help each other?
“Yes, of course. Teammates push each other to do better—I’ve always done that.”
How’s the chess going?
“We played three games on Tuesday—he won two, I won one. Overall, he’s ahead three to two, but I’ll catch up.”
Would you say the team is in the best possible position?
“This is the best mindset I’ve seen since I’ve been here. It’s hard to say if we’re more confident than in past years. In 2019, I was super confident after testing, but after the first race, I was so frustrated that I promised myself never to make predictions again. I’m satisfied, but I can’t say more because I don’t know where McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes stand.”
What does it take to win the championship?
“Compared to last year, we need to be more consistent. We need to improve in small details—not so much in driving but in everything around it, communication with engineers, and the little things that make a difference. And we can’t afford to leave too many points on the table.”
If you’re consistently fighting for the title as hoped, do you fear the pressure?
“I’ll be able to say for sure when I’m in that situation, but I feel ready.”
Leave a Reply