Lauda warns: 'Verstappen will have trouble with that in one lap'

Charles Leclerc is in danger of losing connection with the top in the championship. The Monegasque is now P3 behind Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen. F1 expert Mathias Lauda believes that Leclerc has been given a double role at his team and that Verstappen is struggling over one lap.

Lauda seems to be impressed with the speed Ferrari has found over the winter. However, he warns that the limit may have already been reached at the team and that the engine is no longer reliable. On Austrian ServusTV 's program Sport & Talk from Hangar 7, the former DTM driver discusses the past Grand Prix in Azerbaijan: "This time Ferrari was better in terms of tactics than Red Bull."

Perez puts pressure on Leclerc

Lauda: "Leclerc has to mask everything; he has a good working package and can win races with it. Hopefully the team can help him and do its homework." Meanwhile, the dire situation at Ferrari is causing Verstappen to feel less pressure, although Perez seems to be stepping up the pressure more and more.

"It makes the situation at Red Bull easier now that Max is way ahead," Lauda said. "But Perez had a good run towards Baku. He is very fast over one lap. I think Max doesn't like the understeer in his car. In the race he can straighten that out, but over one lap it's going to be difficult."