New Ferrari Formula 1 recruit Charles Leclerc says he has to "erase and delete" any expectations placed upon his shoulders but is wary of the responsibility that comes with competing for the team.
Leclerc has stepped up to Ferrari after an eye-catching rookie campaign with Sauber, which itself came off the back of successive titles in GP3 and Formula 2.
Leclerc is one of the youngest and least experienced drivers to secure a Ferrari F1 race seat in several decades, raising expectations over both his short- and long-term potential.
Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton cautioned over placing an unfair expectation on the youngster’s shoulders, and Leclerc has adopted a similar attitude.
“I’m just focusing on myself, trying to erase and delete what everyone is expecting from me,” he said.
“Obviously any time you are driving a Ferrari the expectations are big because it’s a top team and it’s probably the most legendary Formula 1 team.
“Expectations are always high when you’re driving for a team like this but at the end, I just need to focus on myself.
“Putting pressure on myself won’t change anything, it won’t make me perform better. If anything it’ll make me perform worse. So yeah I don’t think at all about these things.”
Leclerc added: “I’m not really focusing on the result at the moment.
“As I’ve said in the past, so long as I’m focusing on myself and trying to do the best job possible in the car and out of the car, the results will come at some point, so I will focus fully on myself.
“I don’t want to put in my head I want to win the first race, that is not what is in my head at the moment.
“I just want to grow as much as possible to the first race and be as comfortable in the team and in the car, and then the results will come.”
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