Can Charles Leclerc challenge Norris for Austrian GP victory? 'This gives me hope'

07:39, 29 Jun

Updated: 10:29, 29 Jun

byToby Nixon

Charles Leclerc has stated that he will do 'everything he can' to fight for Ferrari's first race victory of the 2025 season.

The Monegasque will start the eleventh round of the Formula 1 season from second place after a solid qualifying performance.

The Ferrari driver split the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as rivals Mercedes and Red Bull failed to capitalise on qualifying.

Teammate Lewis Hamilton also starts close by on the second row of the grid in fourth place.

The Prancing Horse duo are therefore ready to give it their all come lights out, with a quietly confident Leclerc admitting that there is still a mountain to climb on track in the Styrian hills.

Norris's lap must have been 'very special'

"It's been a long time," Leclerc began after qualifying. "I think this year overall, we've been quite weak in qualifying and then pretty strong in the race, but it's good to be at least this time starting from the front row. At least we have a little bit less road to make before fighting with the guys in front," he explained.

"We're there. However, the gap is pretty big to Lando's lap, which must have been very special for sure. But I don't know if we've got the tools to fight for a victory tomorrow. However, as I said, we are normally very strong on Sunday compared to the qualifying pace, and this gives me hope."

Although he'll line up in second place, Leclerc's lap was over half a second behind the polesitter Norris, who stormed to first.

Qualifying was interrupted by Pierre Gasly's dramatic spin in the final seconds, which thwarted the efforts of some drivers. However, second is no fluke. Ferrari has brought updates to Spielberg, improving their pace.

"The gaps are very tight around here if you take off Lando. So it definitely helped us. I felt like there were some steps forward. How much, we need to see it in different characteristics of tracks.

"It's not only on this track that we've got to judge that, but over multiple tracks. However, the numbers that we expected, we had them, which is a good start. That means that we are working in the right direction."

Leclerc admits he'll do 'everything he can' to pressurise the McLarens

The iconic Italian team sits third in the constructors' championship on 183 points, but is yet to win a Grand Prix this season. Leclerc knows that if he is to win the race, it will be a tough battle with the McLarens.

"I'll do everything to put more pressure than usual on those two guys. We have Oscar behind with a little bit of luck today, but tomorrow, we'll try and look forward and see what's possible."