Charles Leclerc, the star driver for Ferrari, has accused their Formula 1 rivals of "hiding their game" after a disappointing qualifying session at Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Although Ferrari had high hopes of securing pole position, Leclerc and his teammate Carlos Sainz will start the race in fourth and fifth place respectively.

With their SF-24s equipped with a range of upgrades, Leclerc set the expectations high by finishing fastest in both practice sessions on home soil. The Italian team appeared to have the upper hand over rivals Red Bull and McLaren, particularly with Max Verstappen, a three-time F1 champion, struggling with his RB20 and expressing his dissatisfaction.

Leclerc even demonstrated his skill by reaching Q2 using medium tires while his competitors opted for softs, further reinforcing the belief that victory was within reach. However, Red Bull and Verstappen proved their prowess when it mattered most, pushing Leclerc down to fourth place with a gap of over two-tenths of a second.

Speaking to the media after qualifying, Leclerc expressed his disappointment, stating, "We cannot be fully happy. One good thing is that the upgrade is meeting our expectations, but on a track like this, we may not have seen all the benefits yet. We fell short of our target, which was to secure pole position."

Despite this setback, Leclerc remains optimistic about the race. He believes that Ferrari has a strong performance in the upcoming race but acknowledges the challenges of overtaking at Imola, especially with reduced DRS (Drag Reduction System) opportunities.

Leclerc stated, "It's not going to be an easy race, but we should still aim for the win and see where we end up from there. Track position is crucial here, and overtaking will be difficult. However, we have confidence in our car's performance."

As Ferrari regroups for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Leclerc's disappointment serves as a reminder of the fierce competition in Formula 1. With the race just around the corner, fans await an exciting battle for victory on the challenging Imola circuit.