Charles Leclerc to start alongside Oscar Piastri in today’s race, aiming at least for a podium finish
Thanks to an excellent lap during his only real attempt in Q3, Charles Leclerc will start from second place on the grid, right alongside Oscar Piastri. The Monegasque driver, who pushed the limits of the SF-25, isn’t getting his hopes too high for today’s race, stating that keeping up with the two McLarens will be nearly impossible—even though Lando Norris is starting from sixth.
Here are Leclerc’s comments in detail ahead of today’s race: “I think I got everything out of the car today; I don’t think there was anything more we could have done. I’m satisfied because I’ve been pushing in a direction for several race weekends now—something I’ve mentioned in the past—and it’s continuing to pay off. I feel like I’m able to extract more potential from the car, partly because I’m feeling more and more comfortable, and the setup is increasingly suiting my driving style. That really motivates me, and I’m convinced that continuing down this path will bring good results.”
Leclerc then analyzed the upcoming race, emphasizing that the pace of the two Papaya cars is stronger than the rest of the field, especially based on what was seen during FP3. He said: In qualifying, we didn’t expect to be this close to the McLarens. We actually thought Mercedes would be closer to them, so it was a surprise to see ourselves so competitive compared to everyone else. I’m really happy about that
“As for race pace, though, I think it will be impossible to keep up with Piastri and Norris. I believe they’ll have something extra tomorrow. After seeing the lap times in FP3, I think many people in the paddock were asking themselves how they managed that. Regarding the upgrades, I want to thank the team for the effort in bringing them here, even if this track isn’t ideal for showing their full potential.”
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari Gallery
