Charles Leclerc admits he does enjoy more “respect” at Ferrari, even if Sebastian Vettel is still the “favourite”.
The opening races began with moments of controversy between the new teammates, as the Monegasque found himself the victim of team orders on several occasions.
Until Canada, when Vettel had the win taken away due to a penalty, it was actually Leclerc that had come closest to victory for the Italian team this season, when he dominated in Bahrain before suffering an engine issue.
And as he tries to plant his feet in the sand at Maranello, the 21-year-old revealed that race did have an impact on how he was viewed.
“It is true that the situation after Bahrain has changed,” he told French newspaper L’Equipe. “The team has more respect for me since I showed that I can win races.
“I understand there must be a certain hierarchy in a team like Ferrari. It is also clear to me that Seb is the favourite within the team because of his incredible experience.
“I must continue to do my job well by making fewer mistakes on the job. Seb simply makes fewer mistakes than I do.”
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As he adjusts to life as a big name F1 driver, it is to be expected that Leclerc will be asked his opinion on the topics making headlines off the track.
However, when asked about that side of the sport, he conceded it held little interest.
“I just do my job on the circuit and I am satisfied with that myself. I certainly feel at ease with Ferrari,” Leclerc said.
“I don’t like political games at all. In fact, I hate that political act. That is not my style. I am friends with no one purely for the sole purpose of using it. I prefer good and natural friendships.”