Charles Leclerc arrived at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix press conference carrying the momentum of his memorable victory at Silverstone. As Ferrari prepares for one of the most demanding weekends of the Formula 1 season at Spa-Francorchamps, the Monegasque driver explained what he expects from both himself and the Scuderia, while assessing Ferrari’s chances of fighting near the front.
Following their Silverstone triumph, Ferrari did not immediately return to Maranello. Instead, the team completed a 200-kilometre filming day at the brand-new Madring circuit, which is set to make its Formula 1 debut in September. During the session, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton drove the SF-26 for the first time around the Spanish venue, allowing Ferrari engineers to gather valuable data.
Among the areas evaluated were several aerodynamic configurations, including tests involving the removal of the FTM winglet positioned ahead of the exhaust. Additional comparison runs are scheduled during Friday’s opening practice session at Spa. Charles Leclerc hopes to rediscover the confidence behind the wheel that transformed Ferrari’s fortunes at Silverstone, while the Maranello team is not expected to introduce the updated “Macarena” rear wing this weekend. During Thursday’s media session, the Ferrari driver also shared his thoughts on Spa-Francorchamps and even offered his first impressions of the new Madrid circuit that will host next season’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc: “Silverstone was a surprising result”
“It feels great to arrive here after winning at Silverstone. Before that, we had gone through some difficult races, so it’s proof that hard work pays off. That’s exactly what I’ve been focusing on over the past few days, trying to understand what allowed us to perform so well. There are still aspects we need to analyse in greater detail, but Silverstone was quite a surprising result.
“I knew what I had changed and what made me feel more comfortable in the car. As for the overall performance, we’ll still need a bit more time to fully understand why we were so competitive. Now we have to repeat that level of performance at other circuits. I’m optimistic that if I can feel comfortable with the car, the results will come naturally. Mercedes arrives here as the favourite, and at Silverstone we were also fortunate when you look at Kimi’s performance.”
Charles Leclerc therefore believes Ferrari has the potential to fight near the front despite the SF-26’s remaining power unit limitations. However, just as it did before the British Grand Prix, the Italian team is choosing to keep expectations under control rather than making bold predictions.
For the Ferrari driver, the priority this weekend is once again finding complete confidence behind the wheel. If he succeeds, he hopes to repeat the success he enjoyed at Spa in 2019, when he claimed the first Formula 1 victory of his career. That unforgettable weekend, however, also carries deep personal emotions because it was the circuit where his close friend Anthoine Hubert tragically lost his life.
“Spa is special for me. It’s where I took my first victory, but it’s also the place where I lost my friend Hubert. So the emotions are always very unique here.
“The Madring? Yes, I think Madrid’s Monumental corner has everything it needs to become something special. I believe you’ll have to be incredibly brave there in qualifying. It’s going to be awesome and it has the potential to become one of the most spectacular corners on the calendar.
“Overall, I like the street circuit. I don’t know whether it will suit my driving style specifically, but I do like it. How different is it from the final corner at Zandvoort? That one is flat out, whereas the idea in Madrid is that you won’t be able to take it at full throttle,” concluded Charles Leclerc.
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