While remaining “realistic”, Charles Leclerc will be “disappointed’ if he doesn’t maximise his first season with Ferrari in 2019.
On Thursday, between the morning and afternoon test sessions, the Monegasque gave a press conference in Barcelona looking ahead to his first season with the Scuderia.
Obviously, there was huge interest in the man most are tipping for great things this year and going forward, but Leclerc once again played down the whole charade that has accompanied his big move.
“I don’t think about [the pressure]. I’m just trying to erase and delete what everyone is expecting from me,” he said.
“Obviously anytime you are driving a Ferrari the expectations are big because it’s a top team and probably the most legendary team in F1.
“I just need to focus on myself, putting pressure on myself won’t change anything or make me perform better – if anything it will make me perform worse so I don’t think about it.”
His first week as a Ferrari driver has gone exactly to plan though, completing an extensive test program and actually setting the team’s fastest lap time.
Such was the SF90’s pace, their rivals have already conceded the Italian team is ahead at this stage of the year, but Leclerc was too wise to fall for that talk.
“The performance has no sense for now because it remains only testing,” he commented. “They are probably not pushing, and we are not either.
“We don’t know how much the others are sandbagging, so we’ll see at the first race.”
Also Read:
- Hamilton tips Leclerc to ‘surprise’ but warns Vettel mustn’t be overlooked
- Vettel: Threat posed by Leclerc is ‘very serious’
- Leclerc must not become ‘impatient’ for Ferrari success – Todt
During the off-season, plenty have had their say on how they expect the 21-year-old to fare up against four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, with most favouring the man from Monte Carlo.
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto appeared to dampen those claims last week, however, by stating the German would remain the lead driver, at least initially.
Asked about those comments, Leclerc certainly didn’t sound like a driver ready to give up too much.
“If the car is capable to do more then I will obviously be disappointed not [to achieve it],” he said. “But, on the other hand, winning a Grand Prix is a huge step and there is still a lot of work ahead for me before [that happens].
“I’m realistic. It’s only my second season in Formula 1, I have a lot to learn and there’s a long road ahead, but yeah I cannot hide that I’m pushing to be as ready as possible for the first race
“If Mattia has a problem to manage two quick drivers, then it’s a good sign for me, but for now, I’m just focusing on myself.”
