Change of style at the basis of Leclerc's improved performance

After a difficult start to his maiden season in F1, a fundamental change to his set-up approach has improved Charles Leclerc's performance with Sauber.

The reigning F2 champion delivered to the Swiss outfit its best result since 2015 on the back of an impeccable run - slightly helped by circumstances - in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Leclerc's speed in qualifying, in which he made the Q2 cut, was particularly notable and an indication of a breakthrough in his driving after a troublesome start to his F1 career during which he struggled to come to grips with his Sauber C37.

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The rookie admitted that his driving style that had prevailed so successfully in GP3 and F2 required a change to master the demands of a Grand Prix machine.

"GP3 and Formula 2 cars you drive with a lot of oversteer and this is the way to go fast," said Leclerc.

"I did not expect to go quicker when going towards an understeer set-up in F1, but this seems the way these cars work.

"I just need to get on with it."

Leclerc's difficulties and mistakes had put him at a deficit to team mate Marcus Ericsson before Baku, but the Monegasque's change of approach saw him comfortably outpace the Swede last weekend.

"I improved a lot because of the approach we had with the set-up," he said.

"We went to a more understeering car for me. My car was way too unpredictable and was very difficult to put everything together."

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