Charles Leclerc has outlined that his display during the Italian Grand Prix was among his top five performances of his Formula 1 career.
Leclerc qualified eighth on Friday but started Sprint from fifth, and briefly ran as high as second during the grand prix after pitting behind the Safety Car.
Leclerc was overhauled by McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, though the Mexican cut the chicane to do so, and was penalised.
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas also worked his way past Leclerc and the Monegasque crossed the line in fifth, though was promoted to fourth due to Perez’s penalty.
Leclerc described the result as the maximum and pointed to Ferrari’s year-on-year gains at Monza, having suffered a double retirement amid a lacklustre display in 2020.
“I gave it all, really everything, there was not much more to do,” he said.
“Every opportunity there was I tried to take it, as soon as Valtteri passed me I tried to pass him again and succeeded but they were too quick, especially in the third sector and into Turn 1.
“It made us very vulnerable and it was very difficult to overtake but very easy to be overtaken.
“So it was not the easiest but at the end if you look where we were last year and where we are now it is a big step forward, so we need to keep working like this.
“And on my own performance I rate it as my top five performances in Formula 1, I really feel like I’ve given absolutely everything, so on that I’m happy but we need to keep working to be fighting for the win very soon.”
Ferrari scored double points at Monza, with Carlos Sainz sixth, but fell to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship as a result of McLaren’s 1-2.
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