F1 insider says Charles Leclerc said something a ‘top driver should never repeat'

Former Lotus and Renault Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes that Charles Leclerc said something a 'topline' driver should never say.

During last weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, Leclerc was involved in a dramatic and tense battle with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton.

With Mercedes duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell locking down the top two positions, the last podium spot was up for grabs.

Leclerc and Hamilton went wheel-to-wheel on multiple occasions, with the 41-year-old eventually coming out on top to secure his maiden podium as a Ferrari driver.

Speaking on the team radio during the race, Leclerc said: "That is actually quite a fun battle."

However, speaking after the Grand Prix, ex-F1 driver Palmer stated that he has 'never' heard a top driver say he enjoyed losing out to his teammate.

Speaking on the F1 broadcast, Palmer said: "Yeah. I’ve never heard a topline racing driver lose out to his teammate and then just say, ‘Oh, that was still really fun, though’, in the middle of a Grand Prix.

"He’s really chilled and magnanimous, isn’t he, Charles? I still think he backs his talent. He knows that he’ll get some opportunities up the road and fundamentally love the fight."

Lewis Hamilton finished ahead of Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix. Image: Getty

Charles Leclerc makes honest Lewis Hamilton admission after Chinese GP

The Monegasque admitted that Hamilton was simply too fast during the weekend in Shanghai.

He said: "I’m not sure if you ask for the team, they will reply the same, but I really enjoyed it! Honestly, these cars in four races, it’s actually quite fun. It was just a cool race.

"At the end of the day, Lewis was just stronger. I’m happy for his podium. Of course, disappointed for losing out on the podium on my side, but I know I’ve given everything. At the end of the day, Lewis was just stronger this weekend."

Leclerc added: "I think it was a very fair, hard, but fair battle, which, yeah, was nice. And then there’s also a lot of tactics from inside the cockpit that is really cool.

"There was this, obviously, this battle for who will get the overtake in the last corner and both brake very early, and the way you deploy and manage the energy."