FEBRUARY 28, 2019

Shutting out emotions

Many drivers dream about racing for the legendary Scuderia Ferrari. That dream came true for Charles Leclerc after he had completed just a single season in Formula 1 with Sauber.

By Dan Knutson

Many drivers dream about racing for the legendary Scuderia Ferrari. That dream came true for Charles Leclerc after he had completed just a single season in Formula 1 with Sauber.

Is he still pinching himself that he is driving for Ferrari? Or is he able to fully focus on the job?

"I like the red color," said the 21-year-old Monégasque driver. "Then again, when I'm in the car I try to take off all the emotions of my mind, which I think is extremely important to be fully focused on the job. When I'm in the car I'm just here to do the job I have to do, and I'm 100 percent focused on how I drive the car and not on what car I'm driving."

Sebastian Vettel and Leclerc have different driving styles.

"We have had the same feedback on the car," Leclerc said. "We have different driving styles but in the end the feedback is the same so that's good for the team."

So what can Leclerc learn from his veteran teammate?

"It's difficult to go into details because it's very small things, a little bit everywhere," Leclerc said. "But I can learn from him a lot. How he works with the team – Ferrari is a big team with many people. I still need to get used to so many people. The way he works with the team and his feedback is also extremely good, so these things I can definitely learn from him."

"In the end we need to work together to try and improve the car," Leclerc added, "but he also wants to beat me on track as much as I want to beat him. So it's not like I'm going to him to try and get some tips."