Leclerc's Ferrari start: 'I didn't dare say what I wanted'

Charles Leclerc says he was too timid to speak his mind with Ferrari's mechanics when he first joined the team, but believes coming out of his shell more has helped him improve results.

Leclerc finished behind Vettel, or retired, in six of the first seven races of the season, but has seen the chequered flag ahead of his team-mate in six of the subsequent nine grands prix, including his first F1 wins in Belgium and Italy.

The 21-year-old says he now feels fully settled in at Ferrari and is ready to shape the team and car to his needs.

"In the beginning there is always a bit of awe, even when I arrived in Alfa Romeo, but the team was smaller and I settled in immediately, while in Ferrari it was another story," Leclerc told motorsport.com.

"In the first few races, trying to adapt to the car, and it seemed right to do so.

"Then race after race I saw that the team was also willing to try to meet me, so I took the opportunity to say what I wanted, and we worked together in that direction. It was a very positive step.

"If you don't have the right relationship with your technicians it's a problem, you have to be completely tuned with those who work for you."

Crucial in Leclerc's uptick in form has been an improvement in qualifying. He has beaten Vettel nine Saturday's in a row and has been on pole in each of the last four grands prix.

"I changed the approach in my head," he said. "First I always gave 100 per cent, in every situation, but when you are always at the limit, the margins are smaller.

"Now I use Q1 and Q2 to get the latest information, checking in every corner if there is something to remember, and then I try to put it all together in Q3."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 Penalty Points 2026: Which stars risk race ban after Japanese Grand Prix?

• 53 minutes ago

Toto Wolff reacts to Mercedes F1 reshuffle: 'You realise someone is more clever than you'

• 1 hour ago

Max Verstappen knew these new F1 regulations would be bad, he told everybody three years ago

• 2 hours ago

Rattled George Russell is being schooled by rivals and his F1 title dream is already fracturing

• 3 hours ago

Ferrari F1 suspect Mercedes skullduggery with new engine trick

• Today 09:51

Lewis Hamilton's F1 boss confident of FIA Ferrari decision: 'A new championship will begin'

• Today 09:12