Leclerc's record in red at mid-season

From Melbourne, Charles Leclerc will have marked the aficionados of Formula 1. From the outset, in fact, Ferrari will have had to freeze the positions under penalty of seeing its driver declared number 1, Sebastian Vettel, being overtaken by his new neighbor in the garage.

Valiant fifth in Australia, the Little Prince believes he can win in Bahrain when “a combustion problem on one cylinder” (Ah n°2210. Editor’s note) ruins his chances of victory.

Poleman, podium, best lap, the Monegasque definitely surprises with his efficiency unlike his teammate who is struggling at the start of the season. From Shanghai to Monaco via Baku and Barcelona, ​​Charles Leclerc then made multiple errors described as “useless” by himself.

Then, by returning to the Top 3 in Canada and France, the Monegasque gradually reveals his warrior soul against his old rival, Max Verstappen. “The duels with Charles were manly but correct. He defended very well”, will then declare the pilot Red Bull to Eurosport journalists.

While the Dutchman won the first round in Austria after a muscular maneuver, the Ferrari driver responded blow for blow from the British Grand Prix at the end of which he was elected driver of the day.

“I’m happy with how the first half of the season went, he concluded a few weeks later. I have more difficulty with tire degradation than my teammate (…) perhaps because I drive a little too aggressively in the race.

Regardless, I have grown a lot as a driver since Melbourne. If, in terms of settings, I can still improve, there is no doubt that this will come with experience. »

Progressing is one thing, winning is another. Because since then, if Germany's failure was a driving error, the chronic inconsistency displayed by Ferrari on winding circuits like in Hungary has reduced any chance of being titled almost to nothing.

And this, especially as Red Bull is getting dangerously close in the Manufacturers' Championship to the second place occupied until now by the men from Maranello...