Mercedes Formula 1 chief Toto Wolff believes Ferrari isꦰ running a “risky” strategy with pole-sitter Charles Leclerc by starting him on Sof🍰t tyres in the Austrian Grand Prix.

Leclerc charged to his second career pole on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, while Mercedes driv🐷ers Valt꧟teri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton took third and fourth place on the grid.

Bottas and Hamiꦛlton will start the race on the more durable Medium compound tyre after using it to advance through Q2, while Leclerc will use the Softs for the opening stint.

Speak𒀰ing after qualifying on Saturday, Wolff saiꩵd he felt Ferrari was running a risk by starting Leclerc on Softs, forcing it into an early stop on Sunday.

“In terms of the strategy, I think that Ferrari and Charles starting on the Soft is a risky strategy,” Wolff sa📖id.

“It is either two-stop if things g🌳o bad tomorrow, or you're b𓂃eing very compromised towards the end of your first stint.

“Whereas Red Bull and Mercedes on the Medium are in a better place in terms of the strategies that are available to ♎us.

“So I'd rather be on the Medium𝓀 than on the Soft.”

Wolff’s thoughts were echoed by Bott💫as, who will start directly behind Leclerc’s car on th൲e starting grid.

“Everything is possible, and for my feeling, ꧟we’re definitely starting on the right tyre,” Bottas said.

“It could be a small disadvantage for the start and for the first one or two laps, but I think going on the Medium opens more opportunities for us than for Charles𓂃, for example, in terms of strategy.

“We can go a bit longer, if needed, but we can also 🎃stop a bit earlier if we want and put the Harder tyre. I’m sure it’s going to be interesting tomorrow.💞”