Charles Leclerc expects Ferrari talks over critical decision

Charles Leclerc has stated he will sit down for talks with Ferrari to discuss if it could have utilised the slipstream to gain a higher starting position at the Italian Grand Prix.

Leclerc ended the qualifying session in fourth place and will commence the Monza race from the second row alongside championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Team-mate Lewis Hamilton was fifth on the road but entered the race weekend knowing he would take a grid penalty following an infringement at Zandvoort last Sunday.

It prompted suggestions that Ferrari could play a team game and give an added advantage to Leclerc in a bid to claim pole position.

But when asked if it was a topic Ferrari discussed, Leclerc told media including RacingNews365: “No, not really.”

Leclerc stated he will seek clarifications over the situation but played down the significance of the decision.

“It’s something we'll discuss with the team,” Leclerc said.

“It’s always tricky to get it perfectly right. Lewis is still fighting to be starting as far up as possible.

“We’ll discuss it, but I don't think it's the main point of today.”

Hamilton will now start the race in 10th place, which Leclerc admitted may result in split strategies between the pair.

“Whenever you've got a car starting in the front and another car starting a little bit in the back, you think about it,” he said.

“But we'll see. We'll see what we come up with tonight.”