Leclerc delivers 'optimistic' message in F1 title fight hope

Charles Leclerc has assessed Ferrari's F1 title hopes with three rounds remaining in the world championship.

The Italian outfit currently sit second in the standings, 36 behind leaders McLaren who is also looking to end its long-lasting spell of title-less campaigns.

Ferrari lost slight ground to McLaren after the weekend in Brazil, while third-place Red Bull managed to inch closer to the duo.

With three rounds remaining in the season, Leclerc highlighted the circuits in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi as venues that should suit the team.

“For Las Vegas, I’m mixed,” Leclerc told media including RacingNews365. “We were very strong last year. I think it fits our track characteristics.

“However, tyre-wise, it might be a bit trickier for us to put those tyres in the temperature.

“But let's say I'm more optimistic than not and I still believe that we can do really, really well in Las Vegas.

“So Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi are the two races where I think we can do well.”

However, Leclerc acknowledged the penultimate round of the year from Qatar could be a difficult event for Ferrari.

“Unfortunately I think that Qatar will be a bit more difficult, and it will be more about damage limitation,” he said.

“But it's still three races to go, and hopefully we can make the most out of it and then beat McLaren.”