Leclerc reflects after his battle with Hamilton: “Maybe the team didn’t like it… but I did”

After finishing fourth in the Chinese Grand Prix following an intense battle with Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc stepped out of his car with a smile. While the gap to the Mercedes remains a concern, the Monegasque driver is focusing above all on the spectacle he put on out on the track… and the thrill of a wheel-to-wheel duel with his new teammate.

For much of the Grand Prix, the Ferraris provided one of the most exciting spectacles of the race. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc traded blows, swapping positions several times.

It was a fierce but clean battle, made all the more interesting by the fact that both drivers were driving exactly the same car.

And while the fans enjoyed the spectacle, Leclerc humorously admits that this might not have been the case for everyone on the pit wall. “ I loved battling with Lewis. I'm sure Fred didn't love it and that the other team members were a bit stressed… but it was cool to see those battles during the race,” he told Canal Plus.

“It's not often that I smile after a P4”

Finishing fourth, the Monegasque driver nevertheless sported an unusual smile. “I really enjoyed it. It's not very often that I smile after a fourth-place finish.”

Despite this internal battle, Ferrari's real concern lies elsewhere: the gap to Mercedes. “The only major downside is the gap to Mercedes.”

Leclerc acknowledges that the battle with Hamilton likely cost both Ferraris a bit of time, but that doesn't change the trend. “We surely lost a bit of time fighting, so the gap is perhaps a bit wider than it really is… but they're very strong right now. ”

A duel that promises much for the future

The Monegasque driver, however, sees the positive side of this internal battle. “Since the start of the season, we've seen that Lewis is super fast.”

For Ferrari, having two drivers capable of constantly attacking is a real strength. “It's great to have these two cars. With these regulations, we clearly have a shot at the front.”

Leclerc even believes this dynamic can help Ferrari close the gap on Mercedes. “Being able to constantly challenge the Mercedes is a positive.”

In the end, while Charles Leclerc leaves Shanghai just off the podium, he also leaves with a smile. And in what promises to be a long season, a spectacular Ferrari duel could well become one of the central themes of the championship, no pun intended…