Charles Leclerc reflects on the early days of his Formula 1 career. The Monégasque driver, now a staple in Ferrari red, began his time in the premier class with the then Sauber Ferrari. Leclerc vividly remembers how ‘scary’ he found his first race in Melbourne, but quickly became accustomed to the pressure that came with racing in the class. ‘But when I came to Ferrari, the pressure became even more intense,’ the Monégasque reveals.
Charles Leclerc, with nearly eight years in Formula 1 under his belt, is now an integral part of the premier class. The Monégasque made his debut in 2018 with the then Sauber Ferrari, and had his first real test during the opening round in Melbourne. “The pressure kept increasing,” Leclerc reflects on the week leading up to his debut in the Puma Go Wild podcast. “In Formula 2 and Formula 3, the spotlight isn’t really on you, but as soon as you get to Formula 1, everyone is watching you.”
“Of course, I was very happy to have made it to Formula 1. I knew I had done everything to prepare myself,” Leclerc continues. “So then all I could do was drive.” Yet, the Monégasque certainly felt the pressure that came with his debut in the premier class. “It was really scary the first time,” reveals the current Ferrari driver. “And then you quickly get used to it. It helped that I was in my first year with Alfa Romeo (the old team name of Sauber). A team that wasn’t yet competing for victories. But when I came to Ferrari, the pressure became even more intense.”
Significant Milestone
In his first year with Ferrari in 2019, Carlos Sainz Jr claimed his first victory in Formula 1 during the Belgian Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver recalls how a weight was lifted off his shoulders at that moment. “As soon as you enter Formula 1, you have to prove yourself all over again,” explains Leclerc. “When I won my first race, I truly realized that it was possible for me to win races. That was a significant milestone in my career.” Leclerc has since won eight races in Formula 1. The last time the Ferrari driver triumphed was during the United States Grand Prix in 2024.
