Charles Leclerc expects a difficult transition back into the Formula 1 “bubble” when the 2020 season gets underway.
This weekend, F1 was meant to be returning to Zandvoort for the first time in 35 years for the fifth round of the championship at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Instead, no racing has yet happened due to the coronavirus and a return to the track isn’t expected until the start of July at the earliest, making it the longest gap between races in the sport’s history.
So when drivers prepare themselves mentality for normality to resume, Leclerc admits finding the same level of focus as before will be a challenge.
“It’s going to be difficult: the mindset and to find exactly the bubble you need to be in just before getting into the car,” he said, talking to select media via video link last week.
“This is something that you are getting better at every time you do it, so once you don’t do it for a long time, then it’s difficult to get back to this state. So yeah, it’s going to be difficult.”
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The Monegasque though is trying his best to replicate the F1 environment from his apartment.
“In the end, at home, I’m trying to train every week or so to try and put myself in the zone, even though it’s not to get in the car: it’s most probably just to cook pasta after that!” he smiled.
“But yeah, just to train myself to be in this zone, and I think it’s important every time I go training I try to be as focused as possible as I would go in the car, to keep me trained on that.”
Leclerc has also sparked an unexpected love for the virtual world of F1 and streaming during his time in lockdown, but the 22-year-old is as eager as anyone to get back to normal.
“Racing,” he said on what he missed most. “Racing and I think seeing people, being with people because at the end being here in this apartment for a few weeks starts to be a bit boring.”