So whether I'm fighting for the championship or not next year, this will be the new standard for me." In 2018, Charles Leclerc made his Formula One debut with Sauber (now Alfa Romeo Racing). His impressive performances during his rookie season caught the attention of Scuderia Ferrari, one of the most prestigious teams in Formula One. In 2019, he joined Ferrari as their official driver, partnering with four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel. But then I will keep this level of preparation for all the next years because I felt the benefits, when I didn't know the benefit before. Furthermore, the Charles Leclerc Cardboard Cutout makes for a unique and thoughtful gift. Surprise a racing fan, friend, or family member with this remarkable collectible, it will certainly bring a smile to their face. Since then, 2022 has largely been a story of squandered opportunities for Ferrari. Leclerc has scored seven pole positions in 13 races - but only one further win.

His father is the not the only person close to him Leclerc has lost on the way up. He was also godson to the former F1 driver Jules Bianchi, who died in July 2015 of head injuries sustained in a crash during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. On the other hand, we haven't managed to maximise all the potential we had. And this is not great. We still have the second part of the season to catch up, I hope, and I will push at the maximum. But the last few races have been a bit difficult." Imagine the excitement of having Charles Leclerc's lifelike image in your room, game den, or event. It makes a captivating centrepiece that will elevate the atmosphere. I really don't see the point of hiding it," he says. "And sometimes it is so obvious to everybody that the mistake comes from driver, I just don't understand the drivers that are trying to have excuses with the wind or whatsoever. You know, what is the mindset that I had at that particular moment of the race that pushed me to go over the limit and do a mistake?

Compare Similar Products to Charles Leclerc Racing Driver Lifesize Cardboard Cutout

I could feel at the end of last year that I was very tired in the last part of the season and I don't want to get to the last part of this year being tired because I know it's a big opportunity and I just want to win races. But if there any ambiguous situations at the beginning of the season, Sebastian is the one with more experience (and has had) many years with us. He already won championships so he is our champion." We use only the finest materials to make our Charles Leclerc (Jumper) Cardboard Cutouts and every one carries the unique Celebrity Cutouts Hologram - your assurance of excellence. It depends which one," he says. "I'm extremely tough with myself. So it is much more difficult to deal with my own errors than whenever it is the team, even though we are obviously one team and we lose and we win together.

The only thing he would want me to do would be win the race for him, so I was very happy to have honoured him this way." Leclerc has effectively taken up the role at Ferrari reserved for his godfather Jules Bianchi... Bianchi was set for a Ferrari drive before he died as a result of injuries sustained during the 2014 Japanese GPBianchi's father and Leclerc's father were best friends, and Jules, only eight years older, was more a big brother to Charles than a godfather. Verstappen and Leclerc are both outstanding drivers, and their cars are so close in performance that it's hard to say which is faster. The title fight should be as close and intense as it was between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton last year. Ferrari have acted early to try to dampen down discussion on the issue of an internal battle between their drivers. New team boss Mattia Binotto, the former technical director who has replaced Maurizio Arrivabene after the errors that blighted Ferrari's 2018, has said that in "particular situations our priority will be Sebastian". Without these mistakes, Verstappen's lead would be 37 points rather than 80 - still substantial, but eminently recoverable. This year, I have changed quite a few things, especially in the way I prepare myself for races. In the way I relax after the races. But this comes from experience. It's not like last year I was not careful to all of these details. Whenever you get older - I'm still 24, so it's fine - in a way you just feel different things.

I don't even know myself because it's such a frustrating sport!" Leclerc says. "And I always get super-frustrated because whenever I play with them, I don't play well.Our Cutouts are folded down for delivery but setting them up is simple and takes seconds. They can always be folded away again for storage or moving.

It was very hard to take," Leclerc remembers, "because I lost him on the Wednesday just before the race so it was very fresh. We send our Cutouts under plain cover with no pricing information included, making them great for giving. This year, either I had a big advantage in the championship and then you are not really willing to take those risks. Or he had a big advantage in the championship and he is not really willing to risk. Or I am not really willing to risk because I need to catch up points. But there's something about it that every single small detail makes a difference. In golf, if you don't exactly have the right mindset to hit the ball, then you already know that the ball is going to go everywhere, but not where you want it to go.It depends on the situation, on the person you're facing, your opponent," he says. "How far is he willing to go? Leclerc agrees with Russell that "the fact that we've raced together since a very long time has made all of us stronger, because we've always pushed each other to improve, and that's why I believe we are a very strong generation". Please note that the information provided here is based on data available up to September 2021, and there may have been further developments in Charles Leclerc’s career beyond that date. Through the course of an exclusive and extensive interview with BBC Sport, Leclerc is candid, friendly and refreshingly honest as he delves into Ferrari's rollercoaster season.