Leclerc "gave 200 per cent" in "unexpected" British GP Hamilton fight

Charles Leclerc declared he "gave 200 per cent” to try to hold off Lewis Hamilton in Sunday’s British Grand Prix after missing out on victory when the reigning champion passed him in the closing laps.

Leclerc had led the race from the re-start after original pole-sitter Max Verstappen ended up in the barriers following a race-stopping collision with Lewis Hamilton off the original start.

Hamilton served a 10-second penalty at his pit stop but then set chase of the lead, and with the benefit of fresher tyres in the closing stages, he hounded down Leclerc and forced him onto a mistake, at Copse, to take the lead on lap 50.

Leclerc said: “It’s difficult to enjoy 100 per cent. It’s been an incredible race, I gave not 100 per cent but I gave 200 per cent, I gave all of me but it was just not enough in the last two laps.

“Congratulations to Lewis, he did an incredible job, and it’s amazing to see as many fans in the grandstand. It was fun in the car but lacked just a little bit of pace towards the end.”

Leclerc - second place was 'unexpected'

Leclerc, who has had two pole positions this season but is yet to win, conceded that he “did not expect it” but feels it is another demonstration that Ferrari is on the way back to the top.

“We definitely did not expect it,” he said. “We expected it after qualifying to be quite competitive, but not as competitive as now. We’ve been fighting for the win, which was incredible.

“Especially on the medium we were extremely quick, then on the hard we lacked a little bit of pace to the Mercedes but overall it is much stronger than what we are used to.

“The team is working incredibly well, so I am very proud of the team. It is great to have these types of races. It cheers up everyone. There is a lot of work and it shows that we are doing something right.

“We are working in the right direction. We need to keep going like this. It won’t be a smooth ride until we get to the top but we will give everything.”

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