A year of learning at Ferrari for Leclerc

As surprising as it may seem given his good start, Charles Leclerc admitted that he waited a year to understand the terrain configuration at Ferrari upon his arrival in 2019. In an episode of the podcast Beyond The Grid of F1, the Monegasque explained why it took him so long to get used to the functioning of the Italian team.

« I felt comfortable from the beginning. I had a lot of things to learn. To feel comfortable in the way such a large team works, it probably took a year. A year to fully understand the team dynamics, how you deal with problems, how you react to those problems. »

However, Leclerc had a decent first season at Ferrari, winning two races in Belgium and Monza. He explains, however, that this period was very interesting in his learning experience at such a big team.

« It’s very long, but it’s very interesting. Living through it seems much shorter and you can feel all the steps. Every time you learn something and apply it, you understand better how everything works. You feel more in control of the situation. »

Currently in his third year with Ferrari, the Monegasque driver does not intend to stop and is eagerly awaiting the 2022 season. Leclerc has become the leader and is helping his team to climb back up. This season, he has achieved two pole positions with a podium at Silverstone. He still acknowledges that he has matured during these three years.

(e) I feel like I’ve grown as a driver and as a person. I feel like a better driver compared to when I first arrived. How much we go into detail after every good or difficult race we’ve had. It made things very interesting. It’s a sport and I’m always learning.

Ferrari is third in the constructors’ standings tied with McLaren (163 points). If the car’s performance is not yet optimal, the next Grand Prix in Belgium is important for Leclerc. He won his first victory on this circuit.