Leclerc will ‘push’ for a Silverstone podium

Finley Crebolder
Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc confident that Ferrari have the same race pace as the Styrian GP for the Austrian Grand Prix.

After comfortably finishing P4 in sprint qualifying, Charles Leclerc is aiming to claim a podium in the main race of the British Grand Prix.

The Monegasque was one of the stand-out drivers in the newly-trialled session, crossing the line in P4 and having enough pace to stay close to the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas throughout.

Given how evenly matched he was with the Finn, the Ferrari man feels he has a chance of standing on the podium come the end of the main race.

That said, he thinks it will be hugely difficult if he cannot move into the top three at the start.

“Today the pace was very, very good,” he said in the paddock afterwards.

“I could stay behind Valtteri all the race, more or less, at a reasonable distance without him pulling away too much, so that is positive for tomorrow.

“I will try to push for a podium for sure. But if we don’t make the position at the start, it will be difficult to overtake on track.

“So we definitely need to try and make a position at the start without taking too many risks, because we are not fighting Mercedes and Red Bull this year. But if there’s an opportunity, I will take it.”

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Leclerc was one of the drivers to get involved in the action the least in sprint qualifying given how far ahead he was of the rest of the midfield.

Despite that though, he says he still enjoyed it due to the fact he could push flat-out and not have to think about managing his tyres.

“Even though it was quite a lonely race, I actually enjoyed it,” he added.

“To be pushing so much for 17 laps, flat-out, is a bit different. I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

“I don’t see any reason why we’ll struggle more tomorrow than today, apart from maybe if conditions change, but it should be fine. It will change for everyone and hopefully, we’ll keep that pace tomorrow.”

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