Leclerc surprised by dominance: 'On paper we were behind Red Bull'

Leclerc grabs a big lead in the championship after the Australian Grand Prix. The retirement of rival Max Verstappen ensures that the Ferrari driver grabs many important points this weekend. In addition to the victory, Leclerc also picked up the fastest lap and was named Driver of The Day.

"I didn't expect to be so dominant. On paper, we were a bit behind Red Bull at this track. We were stronger than we thought, but it's a nice surprise. Last year was difficult for us, but the team managed to build a stronger and reliable engine," Leclerc told Sky Sports.

Leclerc happy with good start

Since 2019, Leclerc has been driving at Ferrari, but they were certainly not easy years for the 24-year-old driver. The team was unable to get involved in the battle for the world championship in recent years and even drove in the midfield at times. Now the Italian team seem stronger than ever.

"I am incredibly proud to drive for Ferrari. After the last few years, it was not obvious that we would return to this level. We have to keep pushing, because the season is long, but it's an extremely good start," said the Monegasque.