Charles Leclerc quells Ferrari victory expectations

Leclerc at Silverstone — Photo: © LAT Images

Ferrari

Leclerc quells Ferrari victory expectations

Ferrari targets success in Hungary

Sam Hall

Saturday 24 July 2021 12:10

Charles Leclerc has stated Ferrari must remain 'realistic' in its expectations after taking a surprise podium at the British Grand Prix.

Leclerc was the chief beneficiary from the lap one contact between championship rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, taking the lead of the Silverstone race.

The Monegasque was able to maintain the lead until two laps from the flag when Hamilton, having served a 10-second penalty ahead of his pit stop, caught and passed him into Copse - the same corner as the earlier contact had happened.

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Asked if a win could be on the cards at the more favourable, high-downforce Hungaroring, team principal Mattia Binotto joked: "Not the win, the one-two!"

Leclerc, however, spoke quickly to prevent expectations from spiralling.

He explained: "It is good to be optimistic and I think we all want to be optimistic after such a good performance in the last three races, to be honest, but on the other hand we also need to be realistic.

"Of course, it’s good and we are in a good mood, but I feel that going for the win in Budapest may be a bit optimistic, so realistically I think I will be happy if we are just behind the two top teams."

Leclerc "proud" of Ferrari journey

Across the turbo-hybrid era so far, Ferrari has struggled to match Mercedes with Red Bull now also out of reach on a normal weekend.

After the team's worst season since 1980 last year, Leclerc expressed his pride at the work done to propel the Scuderia into the 'fight for third' with McLaren this time around.

"The team is working incredibly well, so I am very proud of the team," he said.

"Of course it’s great to have these types of races, it cheers up everyone. There is a lot of work and it shows that we are doing something right and that we are working in the right direction.

"So we need to keep going like this. It won’t be a smooth-riding getting back to the top but we will give everything."