Leclerc calls on teammate: "Hopefully, that can be some help"

Charles Leclerc feels that Ferrari is slowly coming back. The Monegasque set an excellent qualifying time with the Italian team, but fell just short of pole position. According to Leclerc, this was partly due to himself, as he told Sky Sports.

Max Verstappen's rival was invariably good enough for pole position at the start of the season, but is increasingly giving it away to the Dutchman. Leclerc knows this is partly to do with confidence in the car.

"It's good to be back where we were at the start of the season competitive again," Leclerc stated. "The pole position lap today was in the car. I just didn't put it together. It's been four or five races that I am not confident with the balance of the car in qualifying."

"In the race we seem to find the right balance on my side, but in qualifying we struggle a bit. It was the same today but at the end we did a good lap anyway. Carlos and myself are starting right behind Max. Hopefully, that can be some help."

Clear goal for Leclerc and Sainz

Leclerc hopes Ferrari can beat Verstappen on the first lap, giving him and his teammate the opportunity to keep the world championship leader behind them. If it doesn't work out, it could be difficult. It is challenging to overtake at Circuit Zandvoort.