Leclerc analyses: "Our race pace looked stronger than our qualifying pace"

Charles Leclerc enjoyed the first day at the Monza circuit. Ferrari kicked off the Italian Grand Prix with two strong free practice sessions. The Monegasque managed a first and third place, giving him great confidence for the rest of the weekend.

After four consecutive victories for Max Verstappen, it is high time for Leclerc to win another GP. The home race in Italy seems to be the perfect moment for him to catch up with his Dutch rival.

With Verstappen receiving a five-place grid penalty for replacing his ICE, Leclerc has a greater chance of finishing ahead of the Dutchman this weekend. However, the recent past proves that this does not yet give him any guarantees.

"The feeling in the car was good. We still haven’t found the sweet spot in terms of balance, but we tried many different things throughout the day and know which direction we want to go in," Leclerc told Sky Sports. "Our race pace looked stronger than our qualifying pace, so if we put it all together there is quite good potential to have a solid weekend."