Leclerc hoping race pace can dig Ferrari out of qualifying hole

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.

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."

Red Bull Ring 'does not suit' Ferrari

The Styrian Grand Prix marks only the second time Sainz has failed to qualify for the top-10 shoot-out this year.

On this occasion, Sainz has conceded to struggling with the SF21 around a circuit he claims "is just not suiting us very well".

"We have been fighting to get through [to] Q3 and fighting to be in the top 10 in every practice session," added the Spanish driver.

"So you can just see the time is not coming as easy as in Paul Ricard. The feeling in the car is also not as good as it was there.

"Over one lap we are struggling a bit to unlock the one-lap pace but hopefully, we can reverse that trend and be faster in the race tomorrow."

Related

Ferrari

Ferrari calls for "tighter reins" on FIA staff

• July 1, 2021 08:00

Mercedes

Hamilton “won’t question logic” of Mercedes development saga

• July 1, 2021 05:00