The Maranello-based team had a good result after some hard work early on Saturday. They started the day with a busy morning after Sainz crashed during FP3, but managed to get him out on time for him to make some laps during Q1. In the tricky circuit that is Zandvoort, Charles Leclerc was unable to snatch a place in the second row, and had to settle for fifth place with a 1’09”527 lap on his SF21, followed by Carlos Sainz who was sixth fastest in a 1’09”537 lap.

Leclerc's Q2 time would have seen him ahead of Gasly, but he failed to replicate it in the final segment of qualifying after the red flag caused by Latifi at the end of Q2. 

“It’s a shame to have missed out on fourth place today, but in the end, a fifth and sixth on the grid is a solid Saturday for us. We were probably a bit too aggressive on the front wing set-up on the last run and I lost the rear in the middle sector.

“For the race, tyre degradation is still something of a question mark. We didn’t do a lot of long-run simulations in free practice, so we will manage that the best we can tomorrow. The most important thing will be to have a good start because overtaking will be difficult here,” said the Monegasque.

The key for Sunday’s race will be the start, given that overtaking in this Grand Prix will be difficult. And it will be important that the drivers at the same time manage the tyres and any unforeseen circumstances than might arise in this circuit.