Leclerc happy and disappointed: 'Third was possible'

It doesn't get used to seeing Ferrari's scarlet F1 cars competing mostly in the middle ground. It's also been over two years since the iconic brand celebrated a victory. But now, there are signs that their way is up. Charles Leclerc's performance in Austin during the American Grand Prix was one such sign.

One of the best races of the year

The Monegasque finished fourth in Texas, a result that was satisfying. Especially since he had overtaken direct pursuer Daniel Ricciardo by as much as 24 seconds. Not surprisingly, Leclerc addressed the Italian press afterwards with a big smile. "We expected to suffer this weekend and instead it was one of the best races of the year. Fourth place was a big surprise, but so was our speed for sure."

"I really tried my best every lap," Leclerc told Sky Sports F1 HD. "Third place was not impossible at all. Perez didn't run away from me and I was very motivated. I tried. I want to thank everyone, both here and in Maranello, for the development we have made."

Confidence for 2022

Indeed Ferrari seems to have found the right direction. The team has almost full focus on the 2022 car and updates to the current car have been almost non-existent during the season. Despite this, things are getting better and better. "The updates we did have given us a step forward," continued Leclerc. "That's not only good for this year but certainly gives confidence for 2022. For now, everything is going well, I'm very happy with that. Personally, I've also made steps forward. Tyre management was my big problem. I worked on that for two years. Now it's my strong point."