Charles Leclerc has reflected on his time with Ferrari in Formula 1, revealing that he felt “comfortable from the beginning” but needed the best part of a year to understand the Scuderia.
Leclerc joined the Maranello-based team in 2019 after just a single season in the pinnacle of motorsport with Alfa Romeo.
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Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the Monegasque driver said: “I was comfortable from the beginning, I had a lot of things to learn, but it felt like I’d known them straight away – on the social relationships.
“Then to feel comfortable in the way such a big team works? Probably nearly a year, I will say.
“Nearly a year to understand exactly the dynamics of the team, how you face issues, how you react to those problems. Yes, probably almost a year.
“It is a long time. Yes, yes, it is a very, very long time but it’s very, very interesting.
“To live it feels a lot shorter and you can feel all the steps, and every time you are learning something and you apply it you are just getting a better understanding of how everything works. Also, you feel more in control of the situation,” he added.
Asked how gaining more experience in Formula 1 has changed him as a driver, Leclerc said he has undoubtedly improved over the last few years.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a driver, as a person,” he said.
“How much better? It’s difficult to quantify, but I definitely feel a better driver compared to when I first arrived.
“Just how much detail we are going into after every difficult race, but every good race we’ve had…it’s made it very interesting.
“It’s a sport where I am always learning and I think everyone on the grid is learning every time they get into the car.”
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