Charles Leclerc: I have found peace and maturity

In an interview with La Gazette De Monaco, the Ferrari driver spoke about the start of the season, the team’s form and the battle for the title…

Q: Charles, this week is the seventh leg of the World Cup. How do you rate the start of the season?
Charles Leclerc: The rating is very good. I am satisfied with the work done since the start of the season. In some races we were a bit behind Red Bull. I can’t forget the retirement in Barcelona and the mistake in Imola, but everything else is positive. I am satisfied with the way we work with the team.

Q: Until last week you were leading the World Championship. After your retirement and his victory, Max Verstappen took the lead. Does your approach change depending on whether you are leading or overtaking?
Charles LeclercA: It doesn’t change anything for me. Yes, I would prefer to come to the home game as the leader of the individual standings, but at this stage of the season that is not important. Prior to 16 Grand Prix, many points to play.

We had a lot of questions before the Spanish Grand Prix. In particular, a lot of tire wear, which prevented the race distance from matching Red Bull’s speed and keeping them behind. Stage in Barcelona gave a lot of answers, everything there was generally positive, except for the problem that cost me the race.

The approach remains the same. I will give 110%, as in all races since the beginning of the year. For me this is a special Grand Prix, my home stage, but it’s important not to overdo it. You have to make progress gradually and move on.

Q: Did the new products that appeared on the car in Barcelona solve the tire wear problem?
Charles Leclerc: The novelties worked, allowing us to add. That is important, because in Formula 1, the results on the track do not always correspond to the calculated ones. The wear has indeed decreased, but after one race it is too early to draw any conclusions. We can only say with certainty that we have taken a step in the right direction.

Q: You have been competitive since the start of the season, but could you expect your teammate Carlos Sainz to have problems?
Charles Leclerc: Carlos is a very good racer, he proved it more than once. Yes, in the first races he had some problems, but I think it’s only a matter of time – soon he will feel comfortable in the car and be able to fight for wins.

Q: How do you see the battle for the title? Can we expect Mercedes drivers to join them?
Charles Leclerc: I think the main battle will unfold between Red Bull and Ferrari. Now Mercedes is a bit behind, although such a team can never be excluded from the number of contenders.

Q: At the Monaco track, the contract with Formula 1 is coming to an end, negotiations are underway to extend it. How will you feel when your home stage leaves the calendar?
Charles Leclerc: I can’t imagine that the calendar wasn’t the Monaco Grand Prix. There are some truly legendary circuits in Formula 1 and Monaco is one of them. We must preserve the historical heritage – this is important not only for our sport, but also for the Principality. I’ve talked about this many times. Those who make decisions know my position very well. I am in favor of keeping this Grand Prix and I am not the only one who thinks it is special.

Q: In Formula 1 you haven’t had any luck at home so far. Do you think about it when you come to the Monaco Grand Prix?
Charles Leclerc: I haven’t really had much luck here, but I don’t believe in bad luck. I’m sure all these incidents I’ve encountered here will eventually turn into a nice story.

Let’s hope that luck will turn me this year, because now every point is important. When it comes to retirement, it happens in motorsport. In the race I will not think about it and will not change anything.

Q: Which would you choose – the championship title or victory in Monaco?
Charles Leclerc: I love Monaco very much, but if I had to choose one thing, it would be the title. But since I don’t have such a choice, I will try to win here first and then win the title.

Q: Rain is not out of the question this weekend. What kind of weather would you prefer?
Charles Leclerc: In recent years Ferrari had some problems in the rain, although this season everything is going better and in Imola we saw that we can be competitive in such conditions. Frankly, I don’t care if it rains or not.

Q: What is the difference between Leclerc in 2019, his first season with Ferrari and Leclerc in 2022?
Charles Leclerc: I have changed a lot compared to three years ago. Sport is like life, you grow, gain experience, discover something new every year…

The changes in steering technology are difficult to describe in words. It is the accumulation of small details that ultimately give rise to evolution. Over the years I have gained peace and maturity.