Leclerc not ‘obsessed’ with breakthrough F1 victory

Charles Leclerc says he does not have an “obsession” with scoring his maiden grand prix victory in Formula 1 as soon as possible, instead remaining focused on getting the most out of both himself and his Ferrari car.

Leclerc came within 10 laps of winning on just his second start for Ferrari in Bahrain last month, only for an engine issue to cause him to slow and lose out to Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

The Monegasque driver has made a strong impression at the start of only his second season in F1, but said his focus lay solely with maximising his performances – not necessarily getting his first win.

“It’s not an obsession,” Leclerc said on Thursday in Baku.

“My obsession at the moment is to do the best job I can in the car and extract the full potential of it, and then I am sure the results will come.

“Obviously I am impassioned for this moment to happen, if it will ever happen, and I will work for that.

“But I am not obsessed with it and I don’t think it would be a good way to approach the weekend, only thinking about the win.

“I am just obsessed with extracting the best from the car.”

Leclerc arrives at the Baku City Circuit boasting an impressive record at the circuit, taking pole and victory in Formula 2 at the track two years ago just days after the death of his father.

It was also the site of Leclerc’s first F1 points score last year, when he finished sixth for Sauber.

“I feel somehow particularly confident in street tracks, no exception to here, because I really love this track and driving as close as possible to the walls without touching them,” Leclerc said.

“This is a challenge I like as a driver.”

However, he again remained coy when asked if it would be a fitting venue for his maiden F1 win to come at.

“I will give it everything and if it comes now or later, I don’t know. I will try to do everything in my hands to do the best result possible,” Leclerc said.

“It would be a good sign to have it here, but otherwise I would wait a bit longer and work to have it as soon as possible.”