Formula 1 | Ferrari, Leclerc: “I'll try to pass Perez straight away”

Charles Leclerc could not have done more than this, third in qualifying in Abu Dhabi and with an acceptable gap from the two Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez. After the problems demonstrated yesterday, Ferrari seems to have improved in the low fuel load configuration. The tire degradation in long runs needs to be understood, but for the Monegasque it is also important to keep Sergio Perez in his sights, his opponent in second position in the world and alongside him, up front, on the starting grid.

“I didn't have the opportunity to do more – Leclerc admitted to Sky. Unfortunately I was alone on the track, there was no one in front and I couldn't catch any slipstream. In the second sector I would have also preferred to be badly accompanied (laughs, ed.). In the end, however, it is our choice to have a problem-free launch lap and cars in front. Maybe we paid for this a little, knowing that there are only a few cents of delay from Checo. Second or third position doesn't change much anyway, and if there were an opportunity to overtake in the first few meters I'll try to pass, otherwise I'll be patient and we'll see if we can create some possibilities further down the line."