F1 News

Leclerc plans to attack Verstappen first corner in Miami Grand Prix

Leclerc says Verstappen can be vulnerable: "Definitely a chance to attack"

4 May at 22:27

Charles Leclerc believes Max Verstappen will be vulnerable at the first corner of the Miami Grand Prix. The man from Monaco has qualified on the front row, which will be the same front row as the sprint race on Saturday. However, his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz is less confident about making a move.

Leclerc got off the line well during the first sprint but couldn't beat Verstappen into the first corner. However, Leclerc claimed that he would've attacked harder had it been a normal race without the risks of damaging the car for qualifying later in the day.

Where Leclerc will be attacking Verstappen

"The first corner is obviously always important, and Verstappen has a very strong race pace. It's definitely an opportunity to attack. But that's only if there's an opportunity to attack. This morning, there was. If we manage to make it, then I'll be happy. And if not, we'll be a bit more patient and try to keep those tyres to attack later on," Leclerc said.

However, Sainz had the opposite view. The Spanish driver is not confident a challenge can be made at turn one. "There's things that can happen. Although I think over the last few years, it is true that everyone seems to be getting away at the start very similar. There's no more the differences that you could see in the past. I think everyone more or less gets off the line at the same pace and it's difficult to make the difference there," Sainz added.