Brawn: 'Exceptional' Leclerc outdriving capabilities of Ferrari car

©Ferrari

Formula 1 director of motorsport Ross Brawn says Charles Leclerc is currently driving "quite exceptionally" and well beyond the capabilities of Ferrari's SF1000.

So far this year, Leclerc has secured to podium finishes - in Austria and in Great Britain - and outscored his Scuderia teammate Sebastian Vettel by 23 points.

Both drivers are forced to contend with an under-performing car which Ferrari is attempting to improve.

Save for an opening lap blunder at the Styrian Grand Prix, where Leclerc clashed with Vettel, the Monegasque has showed exceptional prowess at the wheel of his team's troubled SF1000 in Brawn's view.

Brawn: Mind blowing last lap 'judged to perfection' by Hamilton

"Charles’ podium was fortuitous, following Valtteri’s tyre problem, but considering the difficulties they are having with the car, his performance was hugely impressive," Brawn wrote in his post-British GP column.

"He continues to crunch out big results that are beyond what the car is really capable of. He is leaving us all waiting with baited breath for when they get the car sorted out.

"He’s driving quite exceptionally."

Ferrari has pulled out the stops to try and improve its 2020 contender, updating its SF1000 in Hungary and adding more tweaks last weekend at Silverstone.

But time is the essence for the House of Maranello insists Brawn.

"Sebastian had a horrible weekend, and you get those," he added.

"Clearly, Charles’s result was a bonus and Ferrari clearly need to improve the car – and quickly. But there are a lot of good and experienced people at Ferrari and I’m optimistic."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.