Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc says return to F1 "bubble" will be mentally difficult

Ferrari

Return to F1 "bubble" will be mentally difficult - Leclerc

Ian Parkes

Tuesday 28 April 2020 12:37 Updated: 13:20

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has set his sights on a "significant championship" of around 12 grands prix but concedes a return to the "bubble" of Formula 1 racing will be mentally difficult.

To date, 10 races have either been cancelled or postponed, with the French Grand Prix the latest to be affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

F1 boss Chase Carey is hoping to get racing underway in Austria in early July, although by his own admission concedes there remain "many issues" to resolve.

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey: 'We are targeting season start in Austria in July'Read more

Under the regulations, F1 requires a minimum of eight grands prix for a legitimate championship to be staged.

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Addressing the subject, Leclerc said: "Probably around 12 to 13 would be the minimum I would I like to race, at least, for a significant championship. Before that is quite difficult.

"But anyway, less than 12 is always better than nothing, so whatever we get we can go with. But yeah, 12 would be great to try and squeeze in those races this season."

If there is a July start, it will have been just over four months since a driver will have been stepped behind the wheel of a car following the conclusion of pre-season testing in late February, and seven months since the intensity of a grand prix weekend.

Leclerc feels it will be mentally challenging to go racing again.

"It's going to be difficult, the mindset, and to find the bubble you need to be in just before getting into the car," said Leclerc.

"This is something you get better at every time you do it, and if you don't do it for a long time then it's going to be difficult to get back into this state.

"But at home, I'm training every week to put myself in the zone, even though I'm not getting in the car. It's important every time I go training to try to be as focused as possible, as I would be in the car, to keep me trained on this."