Leclerc denies "arrogance" and calls it "winning ambition"

Sauber driver Charles Leclerc has demanded people don't mistake his "winning ambition" for "arrogance".

The 21-year-old driver has enjoyed an impressive rookie season in Formula One, earning him a seat alongside Sebastian Vettel for 2019 at Ferrari.

Leclerc has credited the Ferrari 'academy' for preparing him well enough so he could achieve this.

"Growing in the academy helped me be ready," Leclerc said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Since I was 11, I have been working on the mental side with a coach just to handle the pressure. The mental side is now one of my strengths, when before it was one of my biggest weaknesses. Now we will see the fruits."

The Monegasque driver has insisted that his confidence should not be mistaken as arrogance; with the youngster claiming he intends to beat Vettel straight away next season.

"I want to clarify some newspaper headlines that I did not like," he continued. "They didn't understand the spirit of my statement and called me arrogant but that's not the message I wish to convey.