Charles Leclerc has admitted he sees Ferrari as fourth in F1’s pecking order despite their last win at Monza.
Ferrari won on home soil at the Italian Grand Prix after a one-stop strategy saw Leclerc take the win ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
It was the team’s third win of the year after Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz won in Monaco and Australia respectively.
After beating their rivals to victory two weeks ago, Ferrari are now just 40 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings, with McLaren just eight behind.
But Leclerc insists Ferrari are not in a position to match the pair at the top of the standings.
“I don’t think we’re at the level of McLaren and Red Bull,” Leclerc told reporters.
“I think like in Monza, when they didn’t optimise their package, we could be there and try to win.”
“We did that in Monza – but in the future, we still have some steps to make to be able to challenge them consistently.”
Leclerc even suggested that Mercedes were higher up the pecking order, despite the Brackley-based team having endured a difficult run of events at the last two races.
“They still have the quicker car – especially McLaren, I think,” Leclerc added. “Then maybe Red Bull, and then Mercedes.
“It’s up to us. We’re not consistent at all. But we still have a lot to do.”