While the Formua 1 championship seems to be slipping away from Charles Leclerc due to Ferrari’s strategic errors and the driver’s own mistakes, notably at the Emilia Romagna and French Grands Prix, Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur is keen to highlight the Monegasque’s strength of character and likens him to Lewis Hamilton.

When asked by Speedweek what characterises Charles Leclerc, Vasseur said: “You mean apart from his exceptional talent? I’ve only seen one driver take it out on himself so ruthlessly when he feels a performance isn’t good enough, and that’s Lewis Hamilton.”

Frederic Vasseur, who knows Charles Leclerc well when they won the GP3 championship with him in ART Grand Prix in 2016, The team boss then launched the driver into F1 in 2018 in the Sauber Alfa Romeo.

“Hamilton and Leclerc are the only two drivers I have seen in my career who are self-critical even after a win. All the other drivers would have slapped themselves on the shoulder. But these two know that they should have driven better. And they’re approaching it with a straight face.”

Even if the eyes were on the strategists at Ferrari during the last few Grands Prix, Charles Leclerc was indeed very hard on himself. He said after the French Grand Prix: “Whoever makes such mistakes has absolutely no need to think about the title. Such a driver does not deserve the title.”

Later, the driver told the BBC: “Yes, it’s true, I am extremely unforgiving of myself, and even though we win and lose together as a team, the mistakes I make are the ones I find hardest to accept.”

“I’ve always believed that mistakes are part of personal development. It’s like that in every field, there’s no one who always does everything right. Sooner or later, something goes wrong, it’s inevitable. But then everyone reacts differently. As far as I’m concerned, it’s by being totally honest with myself that I have the best chance of learning something.”

“I just don’t understand why anyone tries to hide their mistakes, especially not a racing driver,” concludes the Monegasque.

Charles Leclerc has won three of his five F1 races this season and is currently second in the drivers’ championship, 80 points behind Max Verstappen.

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