Charles Leclerc refuses to follow Michael Schumacher's example amid Ferrari troubles

As a seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher's example seems like a pretty good one to follow for any Formula 1 driver.

But there is one aspect of the German's approach that doesn't appeal to Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque is one of only a few Ferrari drivers who have been bona fide championship contenders since Schumi himself, though things are not going to plan.

The Italian team have perhaps the best car on the grid this year, rivalled only by Red Bull's machine in the first half of the season. But they find themselves 97 points behind in the constructors' championship amid a perfect storm of reliability issues, strategy shockers and individual mistakes from drivers.

Leclerc has been responsible for a couple of those himself. A spin at Imola earlier in the year cost him the chance of competing for the race win, but more costly was his crash while leading the French Grand Prix which gifted title rival Max Verstappen the chance to move 25 points even further clear at the top of the standings.

Ferrari great Schumacher is a legend but was also criticised for some aspects of his personality. One of those things he was sometimes panned for was his tendency to never publicly admit he had made a mistake, even when it was abundantly clear that he had.

And that is not something that Leclerc wants to emulate, instead preferring a policy of total honesty, with the TV cameras and with himself. "It's part of the experience; it's part of the path of anybody in whatever work you do – at one point, a mistake will happen," he told BBC Sport .

"Every individual will react in a different way. This is my way of reacting to it. And I've always felt the benefit of being honest with yourself and just grow from it. I really