'Realistically? I think Red Bull are going to beat us on Sunday'
F1 News
Charles Leclerc remains a the kind of qualifying. Although the Monegasque missed out on pole to Max Verstappen in Brazil, the Ferrari driver put his red car on the front row of the grid - and certainly not for the first time. Can he make things difficult for Verstappen at Interlagos on Sunday in the battle for victory? That remains to be seen.
With only one free practice session and qualifying disrupted by severe weather, it is unclear what the balance of power is on the long runs. "On this sprint weekend, it's very difficult to have a read," Leclerc said after qualifying. "We did a few laps, but again, I think the fuel levels of everybody was very different in FP1. So very difficult to have a proper read in who is fast, and who is not. The feeling was OK."
Leclerc fears 'different story'
Red Bull kept busy with the longrun in the morning session, staying away from doing a qualifying simulation. Ferrari was fast over that one lap. And beyond that? "Whether this will be enough to challenge Red Bull, I think it's a bit of another story because this year, unfortunately, they are very, very, very strong and much stronger than us coming the Sunday. So we've got a lot of work to do. Realistically, I will say maybe not. But as always, if there's the opportunity to pass at the start and then to block him for all the other laps, then I'll take that."
In Mexico, Leclerc started from pole, likewise hoping he could keep Verstappen behind at the start. But already at the first corner, the Dutchman had passed him. Leclerc finished third, well behind even Lewis Hamilton.