Charles Leclerc makes staggering claim after Canadian GP 'nightmare'

Charles Leclerc believes the Canadian Grand Prix weekend was "the most difficult of my F1 career" after struggling throughout.

The Monegasque finished the Sprint in fifth place and then was fourth in the grand prix itself, having been out-qualified both times by team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who finished sixth and second, respectively.

Throughout the weekend, Leclerc was struggling for balance and performance in the SF-26, which he put down to issues with the brakes and having "zero feeling" from the Pirelli tyres from his first practice lap. 

Reflecting, Leclerc explained how the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve does not play to his strengths, and felt the result was more down to "luck", especially with the McLarens botching their strategy and George Russell retiring. 

"I don't take it as a reward; I say that it is more out of luck than a reward for my hard work," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365, after salvaging fourth place.

"It has been a nightmare weekend for me, probably the most difficult weekend of my F1 career.

"I have no zero feeling with the tyres from the first lap of FP1 until the very last lap of the race, and in the last 15 laps, I was driving a second-and-a-half off the pace just not to take the risk.

"Even in these laps, I still had moments that were too close for comfort, and it has been an incredibly difficult weekend.

"The good thing is that I've got a great benchmark this weekend in Lewis, who was absolutely incredible, and having an amazing feeling with the car, so I can analyse and understand why there was so much difference.

"Montreal is a track where, historically, I've not been particularly strong, a bit like Melbourne, I just struggle with my driving style, and without going too much into detail, the rhythm of the corner with my driving style doesn't fit well.

"If you put on top of that the issues we've had with the brakes on Friday, and the tyres on Saturday, it is not like I was in a much worse place than Lewis, but I just had zero feeling, and I couldn't get the rhythm. 

"On the first stint, I thought there was a possibility to actually look forward and fight for the podium, but as soon as I put the medium tyre on, it would be a miracle to be on the podium."