You have just started your fourth season in Formula 1. What have been the best and worst moments so far?
Charles Leclerc: “Regarding the best moment, I’m sure many people can guess it: it’s absolutely Monza 2019. The worst moment of my career so far is also dated in 2019, in Monte Carlo, in qualifying I couldn’t make it to Q2 and in the race I retired due to an accident, it was a bad weekend.”
What is your opinion on the salary cap?
Charles Leclerc: “It is an issue that we should discuss among ourselves as drivers and then with the FIA. I have an opinion on it but I prefer to discuss it with the FIA. I want to remind of the risks that we take on track.”
Charles Leclerc on sprint races: “I think it will find the consent of a large part of the public that follows F1, and as far as we drivers are concerned I have seen a majority that are in favour of testing it. We have to act with caution, but we also have to remember that without the public we are nothing, so every now and then taking a step in the direction of the fans is not wrong.”
Some athletes in various sports are beginning to feel the weight of life in the ‘bubble’. In your case, how do you experience this very restrictive environment?
Charles Leclerc: “Personally, I can’t say it’s starting to weigh on me. This “bubble” system has allowed us to return to racing and allows us to continue to do so, and thinking about how much I would miss not being on the track, I accept it without any problems. Then, of course, there are many things that I miss in life that I was used to doing, but I accept the compromises that are needed today to compete on the track.”
Last January you tested positive for Covid-19. Did this affect your preparation for the season?
Charles Leclerc: “No, the day I started training again I struggled a bit more than usual, but I think it was more due to the two weeks off than the consequences my Covid infection. Afterwards I had a complete check-up at Ferrari and no abnormalities were found in my usual physical condition.”
Beyond driving skills, a driver decides his career the moment he chooses the team…
Charles Leclerc: “It’s true that the choices you make off the track influences your career a lot, but as far as I’m concerned I’m very happy to be a Ferrari driver. Ferrari has always been a dream of mine, and my challenge is to make my contribution to bring this team back to winning ways. I am aware of the importance of choices, but today my only goal is to get back to the top with Ferrari.”
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