Leclerc details how he benefits from Sainz partnership

Charles Leclerc has detailed why he finds partnering Carlos Sainz “very exciting” to have as his team-mate at Ferrari.

Sainz emerged victorious at the Australian Grand Prix at the weekend, claiming his third career F1 victory.

The Spaniard crossed the line ahead of Leclerc as Ferrari secured a one-two finish after Red Bull's Max Verstappen retired early with a brake problem.

Leclerc has more often than not had the upper hand on Sainz during their tenure together, however, it was the latter who was faster in Melbourne.

When asked if there was anything else he could have done to beat Sainz, the Monégasque told media, including RacingNews365: “Just being better. I think in qualifying, I haven't been good enough.

"In the second stint [In the race], on the first hard [tyre] stint, I had quite a bit of graining on the front left after the [Virtual] Safety Car.

“The last stint was really good, but it wasn't enough. So Carlos was just better.”

'I'll be even better'

The duo are engaged in their final campaign as team-mates ahead of Lewis Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari next year.

Leclerc detailed that having such a highly regarded team-mate consistently helps him improve, which he now expects to be the case following Australia.

“It’s been that in the last three years, where we basically will arrive at one race and Carlos will be better,” he said.

“Then I'll push and then I'll be better at the next race and then we'll improve like that.

“That's very exciting as a driver to have such a fast team-mate. He was really on it [in Australia], so congratulations to Carlos.”