Leclerc admits his first full year at Ferrari went better than he expected

Charles Leclerc joined Ferrari at the start of the 2019 season and the 22-year-old has admitted that he is surprised as to how well it went. He won two races, whilst also qualifying in pole position on seven occasions.

He also managed to finish the year ahead of his teammate Sebastian Vettel, which came as a real surprise for many.

"I'm happy if you told me earlier in the season that I would end up with seven poles and 10 podiums, I wouldn't believe it," Leclerc told Motorsport.com. “So it's definitely better than we expected.

“Looking back, while there are many mistakes, the goal now is to understand them and not make them again. But I am pleased with this first season. "

The Monegasque finished fourth in the final standings and following such a strong season has many positives to build on ahead of next season.

"It was not an easy year," admitted Leclerc. "In the first half we were struggling but I think we worked well and I think the hard work paid off in the second half of the season with two incredible wins.

“Obviously Monza is something that was beyond all my dreams. Being on top of the podium with thousands of Ferrari fans was absolutely crazy.

"These experiences this first year, I will never forget. But I still have a lot of work to do to improve. But I will bow my head and work."