The “great lesson” learned by Charles Leclerc during his time with Ferrari in F1. Now in his seventh season in the sport, the Monegasque driver feels like a different driver—more experienced, certainly, but also more balanced in his driving. His dominant victory in Austin once again showcased his incredible skills behind the wheel, but it’s on the psychological level that he has experienced his greatest change.
Among the top drivers currently on the grid, Charles Leclerc’s name certainly stands out. In Formula 1 for seven seasons, six of which with Ferrari, #16 has carved out a special place in the hearts of Ferrari fans and beyond. He is widely regarded as one of the best drivers on the grid, alongside Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso, yet his growth journey is far from over.
On the eve of the Mexican Grand Prix, the second round of a long American triple-header, the Monegasque opened up about his career progress. From an impulsive driver, perhaps too close to the limit and never yielding, he has gradually changed the way he reads races. Charles Leclerc is now a driver who still pushes—and even exceeds—the limit, but in a far more “balanced” way.
Charles Leclerc’s lesson: a matter of balance
“I think my main weakness when I arrived at Ferrari was impatience,” the Ferrari driver explains. “I know I can’t settle for a tenth of a second gap and will always do everything to get that tenth, even if it means sometimes going over the limit and crashing. But that’s probably the aspect I’ve learned the most: trying to find a balance.”
“Yes, sometimes I’ll go beyond the limits. However, I know that over the season, this approach is more likely to pay off than just settling for a quiet weekend. But, as I’ve said, it’s about finding the right balance and, at the end of the season, achieving the maximum possible points. And I believe that this year, the approach has been the right one.”
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