Charles Leclerc is hopeful the recent strong performances from his Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team will continue this weekend at the Hungaroring, with the Monegasque racer looking to start inside the top ten for a third consecutive race weekend.
Leclerc has scored points in five of the first eleven races of the season and was on course for a sixth last weekend in the German Grand Prix, only to make an ill-judged switch to Intermediate tyres when the conditions were not wet enough for them. It cost him his position inside the top ten and ultimately meant he finished a lapped fifteenth.
The twenty-year-old Ferrari Driver Academy member has good memories of the Hungaroring in junior formulae, with his performance there last year in his FIA Formula 2 championship-winning campaign a particular highlight, finishing fourth despite starting at the very back of the field. He now hopes to finish the final race before the summer break with a similarly strong performance for Sauber.
“I look forward to the Grand Prix weekend in Hungary,” said Leclerc. “Budapest is a great city, and I always enjoy spending time there.
“As for the racing – I look forward to being back at the Hungaroring. It is a very technical track, and quite different to the circuits we have been to so far this season. I have some good memories from my races in Formula 2 there last year, so I look forward to seeing what is possible this time around.
“We have given a consistently strong performance in the last few weeks, and will build on that to finish the first half of the season on a positive note.”
Leclerc will miss the opening free practice session of the weekend as test and reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi takes over the C37-Ferrari, while the Italian will also do driving duties in the post-race test at the Hungaroring alongside Marcus Ericsson.
