MOTOR RACING: Leclerc changes the narrative with Silverstone success

SILVERSTONE, England — Charles Leclerc said he blocked out outside criticism and ignored negative narratives after claiming his first Formula One victory since 2024 with a commanding win at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Ferrari driver ended a lengthy winless streak by securing the ninth victory of his Formula One career, his first since winning the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin in October 2024. The triumph also marked Ferrari's second victory in the last three races.

Leclerc has endured a difficult season, struggling to find consistency with Ferrari's car while teammate Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed stronger form. Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, ended Ferrari's win drought with victory in Spain last month and finished third at Silverstone.

Leclerc also faced heavy criticism after crashing twice during his home race in Monaco and suffering another crash in Spain, where he admitted feeling ashamed of his performances.

Despite the setbacks, the Monegasque driver said he remained focused on his work rather than the public criticism surrounding him.

"It means a lot because when things get tough, and that's literally the situation I've been in the last few races, obviously there's a lot of negativity around me in general with narratives being created," Leclerc said.

"And it's never a nice environment to work in."

Leclerc praised Ferrari for helping him regain confidence in the car, particularly at Silverstone, where driver confidence plays a crucial role because of the circuit's high-speed corners.

He said he deliberately ignored social media and outside opinions, choosing instead to focus on improving his performance.

"Things are said and you go from hero to zero, from zero to hero, in like two days in this sport," he said.

"So my job was really to just try and cancel that noise, to not look at anything, to not listen to anything. And I know that I didn't become a bad driver from one day to the other. It was just a matter of finding that feeling with the car."

Leclerc said he had been competitive during the early part of the season before losing confidence in the car following several setup changes. Although it took longer than expected to rediscover the right balance, he believes Ferrari is now moving in the right direction.

Formula One heads next to Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps, another high-speed circuit that could suit Ferrari. Leclerc sits fourth in the drivers' championship, 39 points behind Hamilton, who remains third in the standings after his podium finish at Silverstone. -Reporting by Alan Baldwin; editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters