Charles Leclerc will likely have a few regrets about his behaviour during the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Throughout the practice sessions in Mexico, Charles Leclerc appeared to be the quicker Ferrari driver, yet it was Lewis Hamilton who took pole position in qualifying.

Charles Leclerc drove ‘angry’ in Mexico and paid the price

Hamilton slammed Leclerc’s mentality after the race, questioning why he has a ‘do or die’ approach even with his teammate.

Ferrari have refused to pick a ‘number one’ driver, despite Hamilton’s warning that it would result in team battles. Leclerc finds himself wanting to prove a point against his teammate, which ultimately costs Ferrari crucial points in the championship.

In the second race start in Mexico, Damon Hill spotted that Leclerc was driving angrily, and it quickly backfired.

Via his BBC Radio 5 Live commentary, Hill said: “I said it earlier on, he cannot get angry. You can get fired up, which is what Lewis is. There’s a difference. 

“But he definitely was annoyed that he lost at the start, I think, and he tried to take too much out of the braking zone. He was actually in the pack. It was all a bit hairy, as it was on the first lap of the first start.

“Charles is basically sinking like a stone with those vibrating front tyres. They’re not round anymore, they don’t work.”

Charles Leclerc has not shown the calm of a potential champion

There is no denying that Leclerc has enough raw pace to be a F1 world champion, but he is yet to show the mentality of one.

In 2022 when Leclerc mounted a title challenge, his chances quickly evaporated through mistakes and lack of composure.

Leclerc has proven that he can race – and beat – Lewis Hamilton on track, but his methods are risky and can often backfire. If he plans on winning a world championship, that will have to change.

Antonelli won the championship this season through consistency and balance, riding his momentum and not taking unnecessary risks. Leclerc can learn from that.