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Fred Vasseur points out the key error Charles Leclerc made early in his F1 career

Originally posted on HITC | By Rory Mitchell | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 8:31 AM ET

Charles Leclerc stepped into Formula 1 in 2018, fresh off a standout year in Formula 2, and quickly became the focus of Ferrari’s future plans.

Managed by Nicholas Todt and already part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Leclerc was essentially on a path towards a seat at Maranello before even turning a wheel for Sauber.

Fred Vasseur was running Sauber at the time, having taken charge after his successful stint with ART Grand Prix in Formula 2.

Leclerc showed flashes of talent early on. He scored points and finished ahead of more experienced teammate Marcus Ericsson. But despite that strong first impression, Vasseur feels there was one thing Leclerc did too much during his rookie season.

Fred Vasseur thinks Charles Leclerc was too open with the media at Sauber

Handling the media is a big part of any F1 driver’s job, and knowing how to keep expectations in check can make a real difference, especially early in a career.

According to Vasseur, Leclerc’s openness in those early days may have added unnecessary pressure on himself – not ideal for someone just starting out with a team at the back of the field.

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“Charles is the first one to say my mistake when he’s doing something wrong. He’s incredibly fast and quick, and a good understanding of the car. This characteristic is there, and he’s part of the family at Ferrari, clearly,” said Vasseur.

“You are never too honest. And in the relationship between Charles and the team, it’s always very positive. Sometimes with the media, if you are too honest, you are under the spotlight for the next two weeks. I remember the first races of Charles at Sauber in 2018. Probably he did too much at this stage.”

READ MORE: Five worst moments of Charles Leclerc’s F1 career

Charles Leclerc’s debut season in F1 explained

With Sauber transitioning to Alfa Romeo and using Ferrari engines, the stage was set for Leclerc to make an impression. And that’s exactly what he did, starting with a sixth-place finish in Baku.

That result kicked off a strong run through the European season, where he finished inside the points in four of the next five races.

Retirements at Silverstone, Hungary and Belgium were followed by more points finishes in both Singapore and Russia.

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The Singapore result came during the same weekend he was announced as a future Ferrari driver. Despite crashing during Friday practice, he managed to turn things around for a strong finish by Sunday.

Leclerc ended his rookie campaign with three consecutive seventh-place results in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, finishing ahead of Ericsson and 13th overall in the Drivers’ standings.

That year under Vasseur’s watch proved critical for Leclerc. He stepped up to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari heading into 2019.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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