Leclerc swaps Ferrari red for striking all-black look in Singapore

The Monegasque driver will therefore sport a completely new look for the first night race of the season, with the Bahrain and Jeddah rounds not taking place earlier in the year due to the war in the Middle East, meaning that all races so far have taken place during daylight hours.

The cap will also be black, featuring a silver Prancing Horse logo, while white remains part of the race suit's design.

For Leclerc, Singapore will represent an additional challenge. The Monegasque has secured two pole positions at the circuit, in 2019 during his first year in Formula 1 and again in 2022, but has never won there, unlike his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who has taken four victories at the Marina Bay circuit.

Before heading to Singapore, Ferrari will be looking to bounce back in Baku, a track where the team should excel through the twisty sections of the first and second sectors. However, the final long straight in the third sector remains a question mark, as it could expose the weaknesses of Ferrari's power unit, which has struggled against the Red Bull and Mercedes benchmarks since the start of the season.

Ferrari head into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the back of a mixed run of results across the last three rounds. At Zandvoort, Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, one place ahead of Charles Leclerc in fifth, while the Monegasque secured fourth at Monza as his teammate finished sixth.

In the most recent race in Spain, Leclerc once again crossed the line in fourth, while Hamilton was forced to retire after suffering brake issues, leaving the Scuderia with an inconsistent run of form heading into Baku.

Schumacher believes Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was visibly frustrated with Hamilton and Leclerc during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, with the former Formula 1 driver suggesting that the Scuderia's two drivers were not always putting the team's interests ahead of their own.

Speaking to Sky Sports Germany in Madrid, Schumacher reflected on his conversations with Vasseur and the atmosphere surrounding Ferrari. According to the former F1 driver, the team principal appeared particularly irritated by mistakes made by his drivers and by the lack of cooperation between them.

His comments come after a difficult period for Ferrari, with Hamilton and Leclerc having fought closely on track during recent races. Leclerc's retirement after an early crash at the Italian Grand Prix further highlighted the pressure surrounding the team as Ferrari continues its attempts to close the gap to Mercedes.

The former F1 driver therefore suggested that Ferrari needs greater unity from its driver pairing if it is to challenge its rivals more effectively. In his view, Hamilton and Leclerc cannot allow their individual battles to take priority over the team's wider ambitions, particularly at a time when Ferrari is attempting to make up ground on Mercedes.