“No one really drove a lap in FP2, and neither did we,” Charles Leclerc is unsure of where they stand despite a solid performance during the Friday sessions

Charles Leclerc has left the Ferrari Formula 1 driver after Friday’s session in Azerbaijan specified that despite leading the FP2 session, he’s not sure where they compare to Red Bull.

Friday practice was full of yellow flags where the top 3 drivers were also spotted driving through the escape lanes and Max Verstappen even managed a spin on this section of the track.

Friday’s practice sessions did not go smoothly for most drivers and Leclerc was asked to give his verdict on a potential close battle with Red Bull during qualifying, with the Monegasque saying: “I think it will. We had a good Friday because overall I think we’ve improved quite a bit from FP1 to FP2, but there’s one more step we need to take overnight.”

“I also feel like nobody really put in a lap in FP2 and neither did we, I think Max and Carlos [Sainz] didn’t really improve on the soft. So yes, there are still quite a few question marks.”

“I think the positive to take away today is that the tire degradation was good and the race pace was very strong. It’s good.”

On heavy fuel rides, Leclerc felt a drop in power caused by a slight lack of concentration on his part, and said: “Actually, it wasn’t a PSU problem,” he explained. “Only I forgot that I had changed something that obviously made me lose strength. But nothing bad.”

Also Read: Sergio Perez Upbeat After Topping Charts Ahead of Charles Leclerc in FP1

Sergio Perez was the winner last time in Azerbaijan and is called Mr. Baku by his team boss Christian Horner. The Mexican lived up to his name as Perez topped the timing charts in FP1 and finished P2 on his RB 18 in FP2.

Following his exploits on Friday, Perez has said, “It was a solid day, we still have a lot to do. Ferrari looked strong, especially in the second sector, in the corners. We need to find something there to be in the fight tomorrow.”

“It was a good start to the day. FP2 didn’t go as well as we would have liked. I think we probably took some wrong directions with that. We just researched and it just didn’t come up and we weren’t able to solve our problems.”

“But we also have good data with both tires in the long term. With Max it was the other way around in that regard so I think we can get some good data tonight and go through it and hopefully we can put it all together for qualifying tomorrow.”

Both Charles and Sergio are optimistic about their respective teams’ chances in Azerbaijan and from what the duo have said about Friday’s practice sessions, pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix could go to anyone between the Red Bull and Ferrari leave.

Max, Charles and Sergio are all very close in the Drivers’ Championship and tomorrow’s pole could put any of the above drivers in a very strong position to get away from Azerbaijan with maximum points, which will ultimately help them in their quest for the Drivers’ title 2022.

Also read: “I was just a bit unlucky with my soft tire runs in FP1 and FP2,” Max Verstappen is optimistic despite the difficult start to the Azerbaijan weekend