"Happy" Leclerc hoping he can hang on to P7 from qualifying

Sauber driver Charles Leclerc did very well to qualify in P7 and is hopeful that he can hang onto that place on Sunday's race, as the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo will be starting from the back of the grid.

That last fact meant that P5 was up for grabs for the midfield cars, meaning that some of them smelled blood. It looked like the Force India's were headed for the third starting row, but Kevin Magnussen managed to jam his Haas in there to secure P5. Leclerc, who once again was shining bright in his Sauber, impressively qualified in P7.

"I'm really very happy with my lap," the Monegasque rookie, who once again beat his teammate Marcus Ericsson, told Formula Passion.

With Renault deliberately not competing in Q2 so they can have free choice of tyres on Sunday, they will be a threat coming from the back, but Leclerc is confident in his own ability and in the set-up of his car.

There will be a lot of cars chasing the rookie down, with both Red Bulls and both Renaults expected to make up some places, but if this season has proven us anything, it is that Charles Leclerc is one hell of a driver. If he says he can keep those cars at bay, maybe we should believe him.