Leclerc on finishing behind Vettel: I stuck to the strategy

Charles Leclerc admitted that he was disappointed to have lost out on victory in the Singapore Grand Prix to team-mate Sebastian Vettel, but maintained that he stuck to strategy and was delighted with the team's one-two finish.

Leclerc led for the early part of the race but pit-stop timings favoured the German, with Leclerc emerging from his pit-stop behind his team-mate and there he stayed for the remainder of the contest.

The three safety cars meant any idea of the final stages of the race being a straight shoot-out between the two were ruined, and in the end Leclerc couldn't join the special club of drivers who achieved three victories in a row after claiming their maiden win.

Speaking to David Coutlhard after the race, Leclerc said: "Obviously it's always difficult to lose a win like that but it's also one-two for the team and it's a first one of the season. All the guys deserved it.

"This was the strategy, it was fixed at the beginning of the race. I stuck to the plan, and in the end the most important is that we finished one-two.

"We arrived here hoping for a podium and we go back home with a one-two. Of course disappointed on my side as anyone would be. But sometimes it goes that way and I'll come back stronger."

Leclerc added that he was encouraged by the pace of the car this weekend but issued a message of caution about getting too excited.

He added: "We will wait and see after a few grands prix, but it looks a lot more positive than we expected."

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