Leclerc: 'I will never be a cold, calculated driver'

Charles Leclerc is seen as one of the greatest talents in Formula 1, but is sometimes criticised for being a bit too enthusiastic or dangerous. According to the Monegasque he will never lose that hard edge.

When Charles Leclerc crashed into the barrier during qualifying for the Baku Grand Prix, losing his chances for a good starting position, he showed exactly what kind of driver he is. First he shouted that he is 'stupid', before apologizing to the team. A reaction you would not expect from a 21 year old.

According to the Ferrari driver he has always been like this. "When I was just a kid, I was a really crazy kid. I was a very young driver with 95 percent emotions and only five percent rationality. So I worked hard on myself, also mentally, to change those proportions a bit," Leclerc told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Passion versus rationality

"I live this sport with passion and dedication. I will never become a cold and calculated driver, but there are some things you have to think about properly when you drive on the track. That's why I try to be 55 percent reasonable and 45 percent feelings. I know how good it felt to see my idols on the podium when I was young, when they were winning races and titles, so I know how well I have to perform myself," explained the young Monegasque.

Leclerc is well on his way, with an impressive first few years in the sport. According to the driver, it's not easy, even for a rising star. "In the three years since my debut I've matured a lot more. I didn't know what a closed environment the F1 circus would be. From the outside you can't understand how much pressure is on you," Leclerc concluded.