Leclerc: Ferrari’s F1 2020 struggles have made me a stronger driver

Charles Leclerc feels Ferrari’s lack of performance in the 2020 Formula 1 season has allowed him to improve as a driver over the course of the campaign.

Leclerc enjoyed a strong first year with Ferrari in 2019, claiming two wins and beating four-time world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel in the drivers’ championship.

A year later, Ferrari has been unable to challenge for victories and has languished in F1’s midfield for much of the year.

Despite Ferrari’s struggles, Leclerc has two podium finishes to his name and sits fifth in the drivers’ championship.

The Monegasque driver cited having more patience as one of the factors to his improvement as a driver in 2020.

"As a matter of fact, I think we just have… the car is weaker this season so I can’t speak if the car will have been better but anyway I think it has made me a better driver for sure," Leclerc said.

"As in difficult times I found my determination in other ways, focusing on myself, trying to improve even though it is not to fight for podiums or wins, we are fighting for lower positions, but at the end it matters as much for me, then in terms of patience, I don’t think I was a very patient guy in the past but now I have to be in the situation I am in now, and I feel like I’ve improved on that too.

"Yeah, surely I’m a stronger driver than where I was at the beginning of the season. If it is because of the situation we are in at the moment I’m not sure but my approach didn’t really change, at the end I always try to analyse my weak points and to improve on those ones."

While he has learned to be more patient, improved tyre management and a closer bond with his Ferrari teammates are also factors in Leclerc's strong 2020 season.

"I’m happy, I’m satisfied with the way I have improved as a driver since the beginning of the season, especially tyre management wise, I think that was one of my weakest points last year," Leclerc added. "I put quite a lot of effort in that and it seems to be better now.

"This is a positive. I think it is in the toughest moments you get even close within the people that are working with you and I think this is exactly what is happening. We are trying to help the team as much as possible to come back to where we want to be and I think this is creating some strong links for me and the future with the team. This is good and I hope this difficult situation will be as short as possible."