[Saba Sports News] To outsiders, the challenges for F1 drivers mainly lie in high-speed driving and on-track battles. But Charles Leclerc recently revealed that the truly difficult moments often occur on the grid before the race even begins. In an interview, Leclerc said that the short period from entering the grid to the start of the race is the hardest part of the entire event. Following the procedure, drivers complete the formation lap, park their cars in their grid positions, and then have around 20 minutes to get out of the cockpit, hold final discussions with engineers, and finish pre-race preparations. During this time, however, drivers must not only take in a huge amount of critical race information but also face intense public attention.
Leclerc pointed out that the grid is usually crowded with team personnel, sponsors, invited guests, and even fans asking for photos or conversations. Amid the flood of information and noisy environment, drivers must quickly organize race strategies, confirm details, and stay focused. This process of staying highly concentrated under public scrutiny places extremely high demands on mental stability.
Leclerc admitted that this pressure was especially noticeable early in his F1 career. In F2, drivers are hardly disturbed by outside distractions and can focus purely on driving. After moving up to F1, however, the scale of the paddock and the level of attention increase dramatically, with every pre-race detail put under the spotlight, making it difficult for young drivers to adapt in their first few races.
In our view, Leclerc’s mindset combines the confidence of a prodigy, the composure forged through hardships, and a sincere devotion to Formula 1. He does not shy away from real pressure, nor does he let results define his worth. Instead, he sees every race as a fulfillment of his responsibility to the team.