Charles Leclerc is “optimistic” that Ferrari can achieve a podium at the Austrian Grand Prix, a goal he also considers “realistic.”
The Monegasque will start sixth at the Red Bull Ring after going off at Turns 6 and 9 on his final lap of Q3, meaning he was unable to improve any further as team-mate Carlos Sainz finished fourth, the two tied with the Mercedes of George Russell in third and Lewis Hamilton in fifth.
Ferrari and Mercedes appeared to be a step behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and the McLarens throughout the weekend, although Mercedes suggested it had strong race pace on Friday.
Leclerc confessed to making a costly mistake at the end of qualifying, but considered a podium a possibility.
“I will say that we need to take a few more steps forward compared to the (sprint), we changed quite a few things in the car (for qualifying), but I am a little disappointed with my second lap in Q3,” Leclerc told the media, including Racing365 News.
“I made a mistake there that cost us the chance to get back into the top three, so the feeling is better, however, there was a mistake.
“We did a better job (in qualifying) and went in the right direction, but like I said, I made a mistake in Q3 that cost us the opportunity to be higher on the grid.
“I was hoping for a better race, and being in the top three is an optimistic but realistic figure.”
Leclerc’s mistake
The 2022 Austrian GP winner admitted he had “made life harder” for himself by aiming for at least third place, with the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri in seventh after having his best lap in Q3 wiped out by track limits.
“I’m not going to go into details, but we feel better at high speed and I feel the steering is more beneficial for the race,” Leclerc added.
“It’s a shame that we start in P7 and I have made my life even more complicated.
“Compared to Max and McLaren, we are quite far away. In qualifying, I don’t think we are that far away, but in the race, I would expect McLaren to have the advantage.”
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