Max Verstappen is in for a tough battle at the Australian Grand Prix, as Charles Leclerc prepares to challenge him fiercely.

Charles Leclerc is hopeful that his strong performances in practice sessions will enable him to challenge Max Verstappen at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix. Leading the pack in FP2, Leclerc showcased Ferrari’s potential, with teammate Carlos Sainz also demonstrating promising pace. Despite Verstappen’s expected speed on race day, Leclerc believes he can narrow the gap, particularly in qualifying where he typically excels.

Acknowledging Red Bull’s likely edge, Leclerc remains optimistic about Ferrari’s chances for the race weekend, stating, “I will say that we are in a better position than the first two races. However, Red Bull weren’t pushing yet, so we’ve got to wait and see where their potential is at. I think they are still ahead, but we might have our best shot this weekend from the beginning of the season.” While the race pace appeared strong, Leclerc emphasizes the need to remain cautious, considering the varying track conditions and traffic during practice.

Regarding the significant gap between Leclerc’s and Verstappen’s fastest laps, Red Bull’s team adviser, Helmut Marko, downplays its significance. He suggests that Ferrari may have utilized full power during qualifying simulations, while Red Bull did not. Despite this, Marko acknowledges Leclerc’s impressive long-run performance during practice.