“For sure I’m surprised,” said Charles Leclerc, who won the 19th pole position of his career and his third consecutive pole finish at the Azerbaijani track. After seeing Verstappen’s speed and agility, we might have all assumed that Red Bull would once again dominate by holding the pole. But this time, Leclerc’s excellence stunned us all. Following the remarkable finishing lap that saw him finish a tenth of a second faster than Max Verstappen has given Leclerc hope that he can contend with Red Bull’s rocketship in the main race.

Red Bull’s dominance of qualifying thus far this season was ended by Leclerc’s final effort. The Austrian outfit has won all three Grand Prix races and gained the pole position in each race, but it appears Leclerc has caught up to them in terms of speed. The Monegasque only had six points after a difficult start that included two DNFs, and a grid penalty. This solid qualifying performance served as a much-needed boost for him.

However, if we examine Ferrari’s overall performance, we find that they were consistently strong in their qualifying, the issue was that this strength could not be translated into race pace. And now the team is looking to challenge the mighty Red Bull who has five new components with the more substantial changes going to Baku, while the Scuderia hasn’t brought many upgrades, which is a sure hint that the team’s expectations may have exceeded at the Azerbaijan track.

Leclerc discusses qualifying and the tempo that is created all through it post-Azerbaijan quali. As per Speedcafe, Charles Leclerc said, “I think there’s been a good step in terms of set-up. Qualifying, since the beginning of the season, hasn’t been that bad. So I think we gained a little bit in qualifying. I expect the gain to be more in the race, but we were also much further behind in the race.”

When discussing the Australian GP that Leclerc struggled in, he mentions that his teammate Carlos Sainz was also able to fully utilize the SF23 at Albert Park. “On my side obviously couldn’t show it but on Carlos’ side, I think the feeling was much better during the race.” While concluding the Monegasque said, “I think on that we still have some question marks but I am absolutely sure that we did some steps in the right direction.”

READ MORE: “Charles Is Ferrari”: Leclerc Wins Over the Tifosi With Heartwarming Gesture After Astonishing Pole in Baku

Last year, Charles Leclerc was Max Verstappen’s lone challenger. Even though Verstappen defeated the Monaco driver by nearly 150 points, the race was nevertheless a treat for spectators. Verstappen and company, however, are having a strong season once more, and for team Ferrari, which is hoping to turn things around this year, the pole had played a big role.

What does the pole mean to Charles Leclerc and Ferrari?

There were rumors swirling that the Monegasque may depart the squad with Ferrari’s ongoing woes. Additionally, the atmosphere within the team became a bit more tense since Laurent Mekies, the team’s sporting director, will leave the Maranello-based organization to take the position of team boss at AlphaTauri when the current boss Franz Tost steps down. Considering everything, the pole represents hope for the entire team, and the Monegasque was also relieved by it.

As per Formula 1.com, Leclerc said, “It feels good for, I think the whole team needed it. because we arrive here where… it’s a part of our job I think any teams in Formula 1, you need to deal with rumours, pressure, and it’s obviously a bit more difficult to perform under those circumstances and we did really well, so I think it’s good for the whole team.”

He added, “[It feels] really good especially considering the beginning of season I’ve had. Obviously we haven’t had the greatest of beginnings but it’s great to be back on pole.”

WATCH THIS STORY: How Long Will Charles Leclerc Wait for Ferrari – Will He Leave for Some Other team Post-2024?

Do you believe Ferrari’s fortunes are about to soar to new heights after an incredible performance in Baku qualifying?