Leclerc: Large title drives “loopy” | Brandl: It is on one other stage

“The season is lengthy but it surely’s an excellent begin”; Charles Leclerc was stunned by his simple victory in Melbourne, rising the distinction to 34 factors. Sergio Perez completed second and George Russell third. Max Verstappen suffered his second DNF of the season

Charles Leclerc says he’s nonetheless amazed at Ferrari’s early-season tempo and has described their outright championship lead as “loopy” after their dominant victory on the Australian Grand Prix.

Leclerc was in management all through Sunday’s race with Ferrari’s tempo giving him a wholesome lead over Pink Bulls earlier than Max Verstappen retired, finally capturing the checkered flag by greater than 20 seconds.

Martin Brandel of Sky Sports activities System One stated Leclerc had “stepped up” as he took his title result in 34 factors after simply three races.

Regardless of dominating the championship thus far with two poles and two victories, the Ferrari driver didn’t get forward of himself and was stunned in the long run by having the ability to overtake his nearest rival.

“Actually on our paper, we most likely have to revise our paper, we have been behind Pink Bull on this regard,” Leclerc stated.

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Charles Leclerc does not wish to take into consideration his driving within the Drivers’ Championship and feels his ‘mindset’ is the place it must be after successful the Australian Grand Prix for Ferrari.

“We had been stronger than we thought so it was an excellent shock.”

Within the meantime, Ferrari has effectively and really rebounded from its stoop in 2020 and 2023.

“Clearly final 12 months was a really tough 12 months for us, however this 12 months we’ve got succeeded, and the workforce has actually succeeded as a result of I solely give suggestions on what I would like from the automotive,” stated Leclerc.

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Charles Leclerc took his second win of the season on the Australian Grand Prix.

“I wished a extra highly effective engine, a dependable engine, a quick automotive and so they completely labored.

“I’m very completely satisfied and proud to be driving Ferrari and it reveals how nice they’re as a result of after the final two years it’s not a foregone conclusion that we’ll get again to that stage however right here we’re.

“Now we have to maintain pushing, the season is lengthy but it surely’s an excellent begin.”

Leclerc: Large title drives “loopy” | Brandel praises Charles

Leclerc is 34 factors forward of his nearest rival within the standings and is now George Russell, with Verstappen compelled to retire attributable to a gas downside with 20 laps remaining in Melbourne.

It was an ideal begin to the season for the Ferrari driver, however for Leclerc it’s important that his mentality stays precisely the identical now.

He stated, “34 factors are loopy however I am actually attempting to get it out of my head as a result of I do not need it to alter the best way I believe.

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Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen battle for the lead after restarting the Security Automobile on the Australian Grand Prix.

“The mentality of myself and the workforce for the time being is precisely the place it must be and it has to remain there.

“It is a good margin however we have to maintain pushing and concentrate on ourselves.”

In the meantime, Sky F1’s Brandl paid tribute to the 24-year-old.

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Max Verstappen does not wish to take into consideration a championship battle, as he admits that ending the races is extra necessary.

“Leclerc was masking every thing,” he stated. “He is risen to a stage, he is stopped making the errors we have seen up to now, and beneath strain he is getting the job completed.”

Paul di Resta added: “He was utterly in management and had a solution to every thing. An distinctive job he has completed and he has completed an distinctive job in the previous few years constructing this workforce.”

Leclerc excited with Ferrari’s return to Imola

Subsequent up for the championship lead is the house race on the Emilia Romagna GP, with Imola getting ready to welcome the dominant Ferrari workforce.

With Leclerc being the person of the second, he’s positive to get essentially the most welcome from the Italian followers.

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Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and George Russell completed within the high three on the Australian Grand Prix.

“It could be loopy, I imply Italy for us is at all times unimaginable and I am unable to wait to be there.

“However, we need not get there with the mentality of attempting to do extra as a result of we have been doing extremely effectively proper from the beginning and we do not wish to attempt to overdo it for the sake of racing on our personal land.

“So we have to attempt to handle that in the very best manner.

“The state of affairs is at all times tense however I attempt to not assume an excessive amount of about the place we’re.

“Though the runway will look a bit totally different than right here with extra pink, we are going to simply attempt to concentrate on the perform and never the place we’re both within the championship or the placement.”