"Never say never" Charles Leclerc rates his chances of victory after qualifying p4 at Monza

As he attemps to deliver back-to-back victories for himself and the Scuderia at their home track, Charles Leclerc will be starting from the second row, but the Italian fans still can have some hope, when they realise that when Leclerc won in 2024, he also qualified p4. Leclerc though, is not getting ahead of himself.

Leclerc has the chance of winning a second consecutive time at Monza for Ferrari | Credit: Formula One

At his team's home race, under significant pressure in front of the legendary Tifosi, Charles Leclerc, who won on Ferrari home soil last year, missed out on pole by just under three tenths, and only 15 hundreths off third place Oscar Piastri, though he didn't make it to the front row, the Monagasque felt that he got the best out of the car:

"I knew my lap was, I hate to say perfect, and I think nobody ever does a perfect lap, but I think it was as close as what I would want to do during a qualifying lap.

"I knew that it would be very difficult to beat that attempt on the second time lap, which I didn't.

"When I saw that Max went in front, I knew that most of the time you do the best back on the second lap in Q3 and you take all the risk there.

"I knew I had taken all the risks in the first run, wanted to go for a bit more in the second run, but it didn't work out.

"So I have no regret because I think that's the place we could have done in the best possible case. But of course, when you see that you are P1 once crossing the finish line, you believe in it. Yeah, reality catched us back."

A repeat of his 2024 triumph will be Leclerc's third win at Monza | Credit: Formula One

Leclerc, ever humble, played down the chances of a second consectutive victory at the Temple of Speed in the media pen, with the questions being asked due to him winning from the same position he will start the race tommorow, last year:

"I mean, last year was close to impossible, I think. And at the end we did a different strategy which obviously helped us to get the win.

"I think this year it's even more difficult than last year in relative, so. And also the strategy I believe is clearer for everybody.

"So it's going to be tough or more tough to do something different.

"if we win tomorrow, I'll be extremely surprised. We'll never say never. Last year we did it, so I hope we can redo it."

With his teammate Lewis Hamilton starting tenth, due to being punished for an infraction last time out at Zaandvort, it will be up to Leclerc to lead the squad's charge, to send the Tifosi home happy.