'I am only fast after three laps', claims Leclerc

Having struggled for one-lap pace all through the weekend, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc reckons that he expects a better showing from himself in tomorrow's race at Las Vegas.

Following his sensational pole position in last year's qualifying session at Las Vegas, Charles Leclerc will only line up fourth on the grid tomorrow. The Monégasque has struggled to get Pirelli’s tyres in their ideal operating window over a single flying lap which has hampered his chances in qualifying.

The eight-time F1 race winner expressed frustration over a “nightmare” end to his qualifying session as he admitted that team mate Sainz has so far done a better job of getting Pirelli’s tyres in their ideal operating window this weekend.

“The pace is there… [I’m] very fast after three laps but in qualifying you cannot afford to do that. Carlos has been much better than me since FP1 in putting the tyres in the right window for the first lap – he’s done a better job in qualifying doing that.

"It wasn’t a great qualifying. We struggled quite a bit with grip and couldn’t get the tyres in the right window, so we will be looking into this. It shouldn’t be an issue during the race and after we clear the first few laps things should look slightly different, but we will have to be careful at the start as graining will be high.

"On the upside, we qualified ahead of both McLarens which is our target, so we will give it our all to keep it that way tomorrow," concluded Leclerc.