Fast-rising Ferrari star Charles Leclerc said on Thursday that he must shut out the growing hype surrounding him if he is to win his maiden Formula One race.
The 21-year-old from Monaco goes into the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday -- the 1,000th world championship race -- widely touted as the next big thing to grace the sport.
He came an agonising third last time out, in Bahrain, after leading for much of the race until his Ferrari lost power, allowing Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton to snatch victory.
Speaking in Shanghai, the third race of the season, Leclerc conceded that getting himself on the podium for the first time had propelled him into the spotlight.
"After the first race (Australia, where he was fifth) nobody sees me as a title contender," he said.
"After the second race, everyone sees me as a title contender so things can go (change) very quick in Formula One.
"I need to keep the focus on what I'm doing in the car, work as hard as possible and try to do the best job in the car and outside the car, and I'm pretty sure the results will come."
"That's the target and that's what I'm working for."
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