Charles Leclerc might have topped both Friday practice sessions ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, but the Ferrari driver remains wary of an attack from Mercedes. A week after picking up his first Formula 1 victory, the man from Monaco believes Mercedes are "very, very strong" around Monza.
"It's a good day of course, first and first, but I believe it looks better on paper than it actually is. Mercedes is very, very strong.
"In FP2 they didn't have the chance to do the lap time when the conditions were at their best and they did a very strong lap time when it was raining a bit. I expect them to be very strong tomorrow," Leclerc is quoted by Motorsport.com.
Around the Monza circuit, there's an opportunity for a tow during a qualifying hot lap. In the early stages of FP2, the two Ferrari cars attempted to test the advantages of this but Leclerc doesn't know whether they'll use it on Saturday.
"I don't think we will sacrifice any car for the good of the other. We'll try to do the best team job possible and then see what happens," Leclerc concluded.