Charles Leclerc issues strict self-instruction after breakthrough Ferrari win

Charles Leclerc has told himself "not to get carried away" thinking he is now on top of the new F1 cars following his breakthrough win at Silverstone.

Leclerc ended a 38-race win drought stretching back to the 2024 United States GP by winning the British GP last time out, coming after a fallow period for the Monegasque in which he struggled with the feel and balance of his Ferrari - just as team-mate Lewis Hamilton hit top form. 

Leclerc had been vocal about his struggles on the brakes, and even switched to Hamilton's set-up of using Carbon Industrie discs in a Brembo set-up - and made a further breakthrough over the Silverstone weekend, out-qualifying Hamilton for the grand prix before becoming the first team-mate to beat Hamilton at his home race since Nico Rosberg in 2013.

Charting his feelings following the win, Leclerc explained that he "cannot take it for granted" that his struggles are "behind him."

"These cars are very specific, are very different to the way we've been driving since we started racing, and so it takes a bit more time to get used to it," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365.

"I was very strong for the first part of the season, then I lost a bit of feeling with the car. 

"We changed quite a few things with the car, and it took a bit more time than I had wished to get back to the level I wanted, and on top of that, we've had some issues on the Sunday that cost me quite a lot of points. 

"So altogether, it wasn't a nice situation to be in, but I'm very happy to get out of this situation in this way. However, as I said, it's still the beginning. It's only one race, and I must not get carried away thinking that the war is over.

"I mean, the battle with this car has been quite a lot recently, and I cannot take it for granted that now it's behind me. So, I'll keep working and try to get that feeling more often going forward."