Leclerc ready to fight for the championship

Martin Macdonald
Tuesday 3 September 2019 11:55

Charles Leclerc says he finally feels like he is ready to challenge for the Formula 1 drivers’ championship after collecting his maiden victory in the sport at the Belgian Grand Prix.

After impressing at Sauber last year, the Monegasque was promoted to Ferrari to replace Kimi Raikkonen, who would go in the other direction to the team where he started his career.

It has taken him, and Ferrari, a while to get going this season, but after taking pole position at Spa he went on to claim the team’s first victory of the season, once again bettering the more experienced Sebastian Vettel.

Now that his first win is out of the way, his eye is now on the championship.

"I think I've been in better form [than Vettel] in qualifying since six races [ago]," Leclerc believes.

"I've changed my approach a little bit.

"In the race, it's been a bit of a different story. I've been struggling a little bit in the two previous races but I've changed and it seems to pay off [at Spa] so that's great.

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"If I feel like I'm ready to be challenging for world titles, at the end I have the car and team for it.

"We obviously need to work because we are struggling a bit compared to Mercedes but on my side, yes, I've got a lot to learn, that's for sure, but I feel ready.”

Leclerc realises the opportunity he has been given by driving for Ferrari at such a young age, but he thinks if he wasn’t confident in his own abilities he wouldn’t deserve the chance.

"You always need to feel ready, once you are in that position, otherwise I shouldn't be in the seat that I am in today,” he explained.