Portugal Colonial - Leclerc says will fight but 'cannot do miracles' for Ferrari

Speaking after qualifying 11th on the grid, one place ahead of team-mate and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the Monegasque driver admitted that his car lacked pace and potential.

While Oscar Piastri maintained his consistent demonstration of speed by claiming his third pole of the year ahead of four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, the Ferraris laboured and were pushed out of the top ten by both Aston Martins.

"You can always do more with a lap and improve a few things," said Leclerc. "But we are just P-nowhere. There's not enough performance in the car and I keep repeating myself.

"There's not the potential that I would hope for in the car at the moment and we need to be better."

Leclerc claimed Ferrari's sole podium earlier this year but has been unable to sustain a challenge while Hamilton, the team's marquee signing, has failed to adapt and shine.

Leclerc said Ferrari had discussed following the example of Aston Martin and swapping the unpredictable new 'super-soft' C6 tyres supplied by Pirelli, for the 'mediums', but rejected that idea.

"We discussed it, but it wasn't on the cards for us and not something we considered seriously. Congrats to Aston Martin – they are doing good lap times and even with the C6 they were fast."

Looking ahead, he said: "I can fight as much as I want, but I cannot do miracles. This is what there is in the car and I am trying to extract the maximum from it."

Both Leclerc and Hamilton will start from the sixth row on Sunday.

"It's a tough one," said a philosophical Hamilton.

"Ultimately, I feel super gutted and I'm devastated that we weren't able to get through. I feel like we made so many positive steps and the car is generally feeling better, the brakes are better and the balance is nice.

"But where we put the new tyres on in Q2, for some reason, it just didn't have any grip and I couldn't go any faster.

"It's devastating to see everyone working so hard in the garage and to be in Italy for the first Italian race, and for me at Ferrari, and not making it – it's definitely bitter-sweet."

X.M.Francisco--PC