Leclerc identifies toughest challenge of Ferrari move

Charles Leclerc says adjusting to working with a bigger team has been the most challenging aspect of his first half-season with Ferrari in Formula 1 following his move from Sauber.

Leclerc has impressed through his opening 12 races with Ferrari, taking two pole positions, five podiums and coming close to victory in Bahrain and Austria to leave him fifth in the drivers’ championship at the summer break.

Leclerc arrived at Ferrari with just one year in F1 under his belt with the smaller Sauber team, but has quickly adjusted to the pressure of racing at the front of the grid, sitting just 24 points behind four-time world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel.

Asked whether the pressure of racing for F1’s most famous team had been the toughest challenge he had faced through the first half of the season, Leclerc said it was not something he felt.

“The pressure, I really don’t feel it,” Leclerc said.

“Obviously being a Ferrari driver is always a dream come true, but it also is quite a lot more work. You need to work as hard as possible, when you come in to a top team in general.

“There are a lot of people, you need to be understanding and learning how to work with so many people at the beginning coming from a smaller team.

“This has been the biggest challenge for me.”

Leclerc also said it was natural for the Ferrari team to have a period of adjustment when working with him.

“Definitely, it goes both ways,” he said.

“Obviously I’m learning how to work with them, but they’re learning how to work with me: what I prefer in terms of setups in general, what is the car balance and what I like to drive, things like this. 

“It’s better race after race.”