Leclerc needed a year to understand team 'dynamics' at Ferrari

Charles Leclerc says it took him nearly a year to fully understand the team "dynamics" that are in place in a big team such as Ferrari.

As a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Leclerc was well acquainted with many members of the Scuderia when he moved from Sauber-Alfa Romeo to the Italian outfit ahead of the 2019 season.

The familiar environment eased his integration with the team but the two-time Grand Prix winner nevertheless required a lengthy period to fully understand Ferrari's inner workings.

"I was comfortable from the beginning," said Leclerc on a recent Beyond the Grid podcast. "I had a lot of things to learn, but it felt like I’d known them straight away – on the social relationships.

"Then to feel comfortable in the way such a big team works? Probably nearly a year I will say.

"Nearly a year to understand exactly the dynamics of the team, how you face issues, how you react to those problems. Yes, probably almost a year."

Leclerc says the adjustment period actually unfolded quite quickly thanks to the amount of knowledge he collected.

"It is a long time, yes, it is a very, very long time but it’s very, very interesting," he added.

"To live it feels a lot shorter and you can feel all the steps and everytime you are learning something and you apply it you are just getting a better understanding of how everything works.

"Also you feel more in control of the situation."

• Read also: Jock Clear backs Charles Leclerc for a world title fight

After his banner debut year with Ferrari in 2019 that yielded his first two wins in F1, Leclerc endured his team's performance slump, the worst in Ferrari's modern history.

But hard work last winter in Maranello led to significant progress this season, a step forward validated by Leclerc's pair of pole positions In Monaco and in Baku, and his strong display in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Through thick and thin over the past three years, the Monegasque says he's evolved as a driver, but also as an individual.

"I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a driver, as a person," Leclerc said.

"How much better? It’s difficult to quantify, but I definitely feel a better driver compared to when I first arrived.

"Just how much detail we are going into after every difficult race but every good race we’ve had… but it’s made it very interesting.

"It’s a sport where I am always learning and I think everyone on this grid is learning every time they get into the car."

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