Charles Leclerc makes startling 'outsider' admission over controversial F1 rules

Charles Leclerc believes he is an "outsider" on the F1 grid over his feelings about the engine rules not being "artificial."

F1's original engine regulations were tweaked for the Miami GP to reduce super-clipping and lift-and-coast, with super-clipping now permitted up to 350kw and a reduction of energy from 8 MJ to 7 MJ.

These had been described as "anti-racing" and "Formula E on steroids" by Max Verstappen and as "Mario Kart" by a variety of drivers, leading to the change.

For next season, the 50-50 split in terms of ICE power to electrical energy will be changed to rely on the ICE to create more of the power, as Leclerc explained why he was an "outsider" with his thoughts.

"No, I've always disagreed a little bit with that," Leclerc told media, including RacingNews365, when asked if the racing felt more 'natural' as opposed to the 'artificial' feeling some other drivers had described.

"I know that I am a bit of an outsider on the grid, but I feel that, for at least the fights I've had with the guys in front, when you've got cars that have a system and use it in a similar way to yours, actually, the overtaking is really good.

"It's a bit more strategic than last year, but last year was also strategic with the DRS, to have it, or to not have it and to pull away.

"So I don't think it has changed significantly, and surely the qualifying is where there is the biggest focus point, and it is right that it is that way."