The love-hate relationship between Spa-Francorchamps and Charles Leclerc
The Belgian Grand Prix is almost here, with Thursday marking media day—a full day of coverage you can follow, as always, on ScuderiaFans.com. After everything that unfolded at Silverstone, the competitive picture heading into Spa-Francorchamps is far less predictable than it seemed just a few weeks ago.
Many Formula 1 drivers consider the Belgian circuit one of the greatest tracks in the world. On paper, its iconic layout appears to favour Mercedes and perhaps even Red Bull, but Ferrari and McLaren could still have a few surprises up their sleeves.
For two drivers on the current grid, however, Spa-Francorchamps carries a significance that goes far beyond racing. Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly both shared a close friendship with Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert, who tragically lost his life at Spa in 2019.
Since that heartbreaking weekend, both drivers have viewed what many call the “cathedral of motorsport” through a different lens. Every return to Spa carries memories that transcend the competitive side of Formula 1.
Looking specifically at Charles Leclerc, who has consistently had stronger machinery capable of fighting near the front, it almost feels as though something changed after that tragic event. Whenever Formula 1 races at Spa-Francorchamps, the Ferrari driver is almost always among the fastest competitors on the circuit.
It is not a connection defined by blood, but by passion—and by emotion.
Formula 1 at Spa-Francorchamps: One final race before saying goodbye
From next season, the Belgian Grand Prix will no longer be a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar. Together with the Barcelona circuit, Spa-Francorchamps will become part of the championship’s new rotation system, appearing one year and disappearing the next.
For many fans, that decision is nothing short of sacrilegious given that Spa has long been regarded as one of the most spectacular and historic events of the Formula 1 season.
Few circuits produce stories as memorable as those written in the forests of the Ardennes, and Charles Leclerc knows that better than most. It was here that he claimed both his maiden Formula 1 victory and his first win for Ferrari during the same emotional weekend that followed the death of Anthoine Hubert.
The years that followed have only strengthened that bond, despite Ferrari often arriving in Belgium with less competitive machinery.
One standout example came in 2024, when Charles Leclerc produced a remarkable second-place qualifying performance in wet conditions using a setup that was far from ideal for the rain. That result was later promoted to pole position following Max Verstappen’s grid penalty. Then, last season, the Monegasque delivered another memorable performance by dragging an extremely difficult-to-drive SF-25 as high up the order as possible through Spa’s daunting high-speed corners surrounded by the Ardennes forest.
Special relationships between drivers and circuits have always existed in Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton has Silverstone, while Max Verstappen has the Red Bull Ring. Charles Leclerc, however, has more than one place where he seems to find something extra behind the wheel.
Monaco and Monza immediately bring the Ferrari driver to mind, but Spa represents something different. The connection is neither purely technical nor based solely on performance. Instead, it is a deeply emotional love-hate relationship born from unforgettable memories.
Paradoxically, Spa is perhaps the circuit with which Charles Leclerc shares his strongest connection, and it has also been the stage for some of the greatest moments of his Formula 1 career. It is a venue worthy of a driver capable of delivering extraordinary performances.
For Charles Leclerc—and for many others—it will not be easy to say goodbye to Spa as a permanent fixture on the Formula 1 calendar. The decision by Liberty Media remains one that many fans still struggle to accept.
Belgian GP 2026: The perfect place for Charles Leclerc’s resurgence to continue
For all these reasons, there may be no better venue for Charles Leclerc to confirm his return to the front this season.
Ferrari may not realistically be thinking about the championship at this stage, but strong results remain essential regardless of whether the title is still within reach. Sometimes, the less attention a driver pays to championship calculations, the lower the pressure becomes—and the greater the chance of achieving success naturally.
After eight years in Formula 1, the Ferrari driver understands better than almost anyone how easily pressure can influence performances. At a circuit that represents such an important chapter of his career, this is another opportunity to prove, just as he did at Silverstone, that he deserves his place among Formula 1’s elite and belongs in the fight with the very best drivers in the world.
Whether Charles Leclerc will eventually win the Formula 1 World Championship with Ferrari remains impossible to predict. It would undoubtedly be an unforgettable moment for the Scuderia and millions of Ferrari supporters around the globe.
Yet another emotional victory at Spa could carry a significance all of its own. Seven years after his unforgettable first triumph—one forever overshadowed by the tragic events that preceded it—winning once again at Spa-Francorchamps would represent another deeply meaningful chapter in Charles Leclerc’s remarkable journey.
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