Leclerc staying grounded despite rapid rise

Charles Leclerc has insisted he’s staying grounded despite his rapid rise to stardom following his move to Ferrari, admitting he’s not “overwhelmed by fans” just yet.

Leclerc has had a controversial start to life as a Scuderia driver, being the victim of team orders in Australia and China, an engine problem costing him a maiden win in Bahrain. Most recently the Monegasque crashed out in Q2 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but came through the field to finish in P5.

Despite being front and centre in 2019, Leclerc is keeping his feet on the ground as his profile rises.

"Formula 1 is a strange sport because unless you get on the podium, people do not know your face,” he told Auto Motor Und Sport.

“Most often, they see us with a helmet, but since Bahrain, they can associate my face with my name.

"I'm not yet overwhelmed by fans, and I have to say that when I'm in Monaco, I stay at home most of the time in my simulator.

"I do not consider myself a superstar.

"I do not know what to expect, it's good if people already see me like that, but I'll give everything on the track anyway to be one of the big ones.”