Charles Leclerc hoping race pace can dig Ferrari out of qualifying hole

Leclerc in Austria — Photo: © LAT Images

Styrian Grand Prix

Leclerc hoping race pace can dig Ferrari out of qualifying hole

Leclerc starts seventh with Sainz a season-worst 12th

Sam Hall

Saturday 26 June 2021 21:14

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Charles Leclerc is hoping Ferrari's race pace will make amends for its poor qualifying performance ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix.

Leclerc will start from seventh on the grid at the Red Bull Ring while team-mate Carlos Sainz lines up a season-worst 12th as Ferrari failed to match its recent impressive qualifying performances.

In Monaco and Baku, Leclerc set the pole time, and while in France last weekend he was again seventh, Sainz managed fifth.

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Around the short Austrian circuit, Leclerc lapped over half-a-second slower than polesitter Max Verstappen in his Red Bull

"I obviously expected more than a P7," said Leclerc. "But on the other hand, the race pace was very good yesterday [in practice] so we didn't want to sacrifice the race pace to be better in qualifying today.

"P7 was, I think, the best result we could do today and we will go from there tomorrow."

Although Ferrari has previously performed well on Saturdays, the team has struggled to be as competitive across a race distance, a fact it is hoping to address on Sunday.

"I think the answers we are all searching for is the race pace tomorrow," added Leclerc. "Yesterday it was very strong but let's wait and see tomorrow.

"If we have a good race pace then I feel like this can be a strong race for us and a good opportunity to score good points. A good start and then hopefully the pace to stay where we will be."