Alfa Romeo driver, Antonio Giovinazzi has said that confidence is a large factor in his recent strong qualifying performances.

After struggling to match his team-mate, Kimi Raikkonen, in the early stages of the season, Giovinazzi finally had a break-through at the Canadian Grand Prix, and has out-qualified the Finn in the last three races.

When asked about what he has changed in recent races in Friday’s press conference, Giovinazzi said: “I think already in the first part of the season I was really close to Kimi, always really there.

“Second part, yeah, the confidence was coming better and better.

“I don’t think it’s something we need to talk about – I was in front of Kimi three times.

“I’m just really happy that my confidence is coming better and better.”

Although the 25-year-old is happy that he is performing better in qualifying, he admits that his Alfa Romeo is not as strong in race trim and that it is something both he and his team need to work on for the final four races of the season.

“I think we are struggling a little bit on race pace now.” he added.

“I hope we can find the right way this weekend and come back [into the] points, so we miss from two races already, so we need to get back there.”

Alfa Romeo have not had a points finish since Singapore, where Giovinazzi finished 10th, but despite having two non-points scoring races, the Italian feels that it won’t take much to unlock extra speed to regularly be in the top ten and that a small detail will make all the difference.

“We had an intensive week last weekend and we tried to find something in the car,

“I think the car is fast, because in qualifying we are there, almost close to Q3, but in the race we are struggling a lot,

“I think we need to find just the last detail and then try to be back in the points soon.”