Sen. Jeff Flake said Friday that while Donald Trump's expression of regrets about his rhetoric was a "step in the right direction," he should offer up more specific apologies to Sen. John McCain, Judge Gonzalo Curiel and Mexican immigrants.

Flake told KFYI in Phoenix that in addition to some of Trump's rhetoric, his positions on issues "need to change" as well, arguing that he will lose if they do not. However, the Arizona senator added that he is "glad he started" where he did. BuzzFeed News was the first to flag the comments.

"It's a step in the right direction. I'm not part of the 'Never Trump' movement. I want him to change," Flake said. "I just know that unless he does change, not just the tone and tenor of the campaign — that has to change certainly, but some of his positions need to change as well. If he can do that, then he can win ... Let's take what he said yesterday, he apologized for not always being artful in his delivery.

"I think it would do more good for him to say, 'Hey, I disparaged John McCain and his service by saying, I only respect those who weren't captured. I'm sorry for that. That was the wrong thing to say, and I respect John McCain,'" Flake said.

"'I referred to a judge born in Indiana as a Mexican in a pejorative way. I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have implied that he can't judge fairly because of his heritage. I referred early in my campaign to Mexicans who cross the border as rapists. That was a broad brush and I'm sorry because I did offend people.'

"That would go a long way. I'm glad he started, I hope he continues but some of the positions need to change as well," he added, pointing to his proposed Muslim ban, and policies on trade and NATO.

The comments come on the heels of Trump telling supporters in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday night that he regrets past comments he's made on the campaign, particularly those which have caused "pain" to some. He did so a day after a shake-up in the leadership of his campaign, which saw Kellyanne Conway take over as campaign manager and Stephen Bannon as chief executive.