Leclerc: Wanting to beat Vettel is normal

Charles Leclerc makes no bones about his desire to get the better of Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel, having wiped the floor with his world champion colleague to take the Scuderia's first race win of 2019 in Belgium last weekend.

After a bruising season so far, Ferrari head home to Monza this weekend with renewed confidence after Leclerc's largely dominant win at Spa-Francorchamps, which shares many characteristics with the red team's home track.

Having started the season as a defined number two driver to Vettel, Leclerc has earned equal status over recent months, and the German was ordered aside to aid his team-mate's win in Belgium.

Leclerc praised Vettel's guiding hand helping him settle into life at Ferrari as the team's send youngest driver in its history, but says a healthy competition between the two is natural.

"Seb and I have found the right compromise," Leclerc said at Ferrari's 90th anniversary celebrations at Milan's Piazza del Duomo.

"We work together to improve the car, we have a great understanding and this is very important.

"It is clear that in each of us wants to be in front of the other, but it is normal.

"I have learned a lot from Sebastian. He is very methodical, he takes care of every detail and has given me so much from this point of view.

"Our top speed is good. In qualifying we can be very strong, we have to manage it well to take pole, knowing that the Mercedes in the race is very strong."

Having firmly got his feet under the table now, Leclerc set the loftiest of aims when asked for his future goals.

"In five years I still see myself at Ferrari and as world champion," he said. "You must aim for the maximum in order to grow."

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