Charles Leclerc has provided a reality check ahead of qualifying for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, believing Ferrari cannot compete with McLaren.
The Monegasque driver has had mixed fortunes in terms in the free practice sessions, finishing 10th in FP3 having ended FP2 a positive second on Friday, behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
There was anticipation of a potential three-team battle for supremacy in Baku, with Lando Norris saying he expected the Scuderia to be fast, based on the formbook last year.
Even Hamilton, who has been largely glass-half-empty across the year, appeared buoyant by the SF-25 package after practice.
But Leclerc brought any possible expectations crashing down, admitting that whilst the team looks like it will be competitive, McLaren will once again be the dominant force.
“I think there is a lot more potential, especially from me. I didn’t do a great job,” he said.
“But overall, we look to be pretty strong, but and it is a big but, it looks like McLaren is in another world, literally.”
Leclerc intimated that Norris’ brush with the wall in FP2, which damaged his left-rear suspension, was perhaps a red herring as to where McLaren is really at with pace.
“I think people will be very surprised [in qualifying] because Lando didn’t finish some laps that were very, very impressive, so I doubt we will be in the fight with them.
“But compared to the others, it seems that we are in a good place. I don’t think there will be a battle for the win, but never say never.
“In 2021 and in many qualifyings here, I felt like it wasn’t possible, but in the end, we made it, so I’ll keep my hopes high, but it looks unlikely.”
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