Charles Leclerc admits he looks to Lewis Hamilton as the standard he sets himself when it comes to eliminating mistakes.

The Monegasque has been pretty impressive by and large in his first season for Ferrari, but it hasn't been perfect with a few errors costing him at key moments.

And reflecting on his first 12 races in red, Leclerc admits those moments have stayed in his mind because of his own expectations.

"Yes, because I am hard on myself," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera.

"Not only the one in Germany where I went out in the wet, even in [Q2 in] Baku I made a mistake and I felt it so much. It always happens like this when it's my fault."

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It was then in a later question, the 21-year-old pointed to Hamilton's main qualities which he wants to replicate to the same level.

"Consistency, the ability to always know how to reach the maximum and mental strength," he said.

"Everyone can make a good lap, the difference is putting so many together in the moments that count. I'm training so much to succeed."

More broadly, Leclerc's first year at Ferrari has been positive in terms of his competition to Sebastian Vettel and his composure, having narrowly lost two victories through little fault of his own.

And giving his own evaluation, he admitted: "I find it hard to give myself a rating, but to be honest I'm happy.

"It was not an easy challenge to join an important team in the second year of F1. I needed to adapt in the beginning, but I grew fast with the team. I must continue to focus on weaknesses and improve.

"Being a Ferrari driver requires concentration, determination, dedication," Charles added.

"In time you get used to it, but every time you wear the uniform you get a special feeling. Then you get to the track, you get into a bubble and you only think about driving at your best."