Ferrari want to put Verstappen under pressure: 'He has a strong race pace'

Ferrari would have loved to start from pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix, but Max Verstappen was a bit faster. Despite the small disappointment, the Italians expect an exciting race on Sunday. From P2 and P3 Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will put the Dutchman under a lot of pressure.

"We can be reasonably happy with how qualifying went, but there’s also an element of regret. We’re pleased to be back fighting for pole position down to the nearest thousandths of a second with both our cars, but obviously, when you come that close to pole you would like to have actually taken it", Laurent Mekies begins in Ferrari's official press release.

Leclerc looked fast in Q3, but the Monegasque made a small mistake in his final run. This allowed Verstappen to take pole position, but the difference between the two rivals was minimal.

The Ferrari sport director says the drivers have gained confidence in the car thanks to the team on the track and in Maranello. The Italians will try to put Verstappen under a lot of pressure during his home race. Mercedes had also hoped to fight for pole position, but Sergio Perez's spin in the closing stages of qualifying prevented Lewis Hamilton and George Russell from completing their fast lap. In the race, Mercedes may come back even stronger.

"I expect tomorrow’s race will be a very close battle between three teams, as even Mercedes could be in the mix and so it should be a great show for all the fans in the grandstands and those watching at home on TV. We know that, so far, Verstappen has had a very strong race pace and tomorrow we will try and put him under pressure to make life difficult for him", Mekies ends.