Charles Leclerc believes Monza pole is ‘on the playing cards’ after Ferrari’s optimistic Friday forward of Italian Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc believes {that a} pole place in entrance of the Tifosi at Monza is “on the playing cards” as issues stand, after an encouraging day for Ferrari forward of the Italian Grand Prix.

Leclerc completed each one-hour periods on the Monza Circuit second, every time solely fractions slower than the outright pace-setter, which proved to be Ferrari crew mate Lewis Hamilton within the opening session.

The Monegasque, who claimed an unlikely victory 12 months in the past on the venue, admitted that the SF-25 was proving to be tough to drive, as highlighted by going off at Ascari, however that it was additionally trying fast.

“On low gas and excessive gas it has been fairly tough however quick,” he mentioned.

“I would moderately be on this place than having a constant automobile that is sluggish however we have to work a little bit bit on consistency. I believe on the brief runs we managed to extract kind of what there was within the automobile, nonetheless, for tomorrow we have to get that consistency and we’re engaged on that.”

“That is a tough query,” he added when requested if reaching pole on Saturday was life like.

“For now I believe it is on the playing cards however I do not understand how a lot Crimson Bull and McLaren have pushed simply but, I believe they’ve greater than what we’ve got within the pocket. We nonetheless want to enhance the automobile but when we do then I believe there is a risk.”

Hamilton, who will compete at Monza as a Ferrari driver for the primary time, was additionally optimistic about his and the crew’s possibilities this weekend as he searches for his first Grand Prix rostrum with the Scuderia.

The Briton topped FP1 and completed FP2 fifth, lower than two-tenths slower than the quickest lap within the session.

“FP1 was actually, actually sturdy and FP2 was positively far more of a battle nevertheless it’s higher to have that in FP2 and study from that moderately than FP3,” mentioned Hamilton, who shall be hit with a five-place grid penalty, which has carried over from the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

“Plenty of positives to take from at present and we’ll do some work in a single day and I hope that tomorrow we will be higher. I believe the McLarens are clearly nonetheless very quick and I believe it’s totally shut with everybody within the prime 5, prime 10, so [it] shall be a problem. It isn’t straightforward to overhaul and I’ve clearly obtained that penalty which is unlucky.”