Leclerc makes Ferrari admission in surprise F1 pecking order verdict

Charles Leclerc has admitted he sees Ferrari as fourth in the F1 pecking order despite its victory last time out at Monza.

Ferrari won on home soil at the Italian Grand Prix after executing a one-stop strategy that saw Leclerc take the chequered flag ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

It marked the team's third victory of the year after Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz won in Monaco and Australia respectively.

After besting the competition to victory two weeks ago, Ferrari now sit just 40 points behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship, while McLaren is just eight points down on the lead.

ButLeclerc has asserted Ferrari is not in a position to be considered on par with the leading duo in the standings.

“I don't think we are at the level of McLaren and Red Bull yet,” Leclerc told media including RacingNews365. 

“I think like in Monza, when they don't optimise their package, we can be there and try and win it.”

“We did it in Monza - however, going forward, we still have some steps forward to be done in order to challenge them consistently.”

Leclerc even theorised that Mercedes is in front of it in the pecking order, despite the Brackley-based squad enduring a difficult run of events at the last two rounds.

“They still have the faster car - especially McLaren, I think,” Leclerc added. “Then it's probably Red Bull, and then Mercedes.

“It depends with us. We are a bit more inconsistent. But we still have some work to do.”