Charles Leclerc and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, a long and troubled history. The Monegasque returns four years later to the track where he won his first Grand Prix, but also to the circuit that, 24 hours before his triumph, took away his dear friend Anthoine Hubert.
Nevertheless, Spa remains Spa, and Charles Leclerc enjoys racing on this special track. Due to the SF-23 not being at its best, Charles hopes to be able to drive on a wet track, but if the forecasts are confirmed, the risk will be to witness significantly reduced on-track activities. Speaking of rain and safety, Charles Leclerc expressed his views on what should be done at Spa (and not only) when it comes to racing in wet conditions.
This weekend you return to the track where you won your first Grand Prix. Is there still a special feeling when you arrive here in Spa?
“A professional driver always brings out the best in himself in every race weekend, but in terms of feelings, it’s always special to return to where you won your first Grand Prix. It’s a very nice memory, it was a very special moment, although the circumstances in which I won my first Formula 1 race were very particular, as Anthoine had left us the day before. But Spa remains a unique track, I think all the drivers appreciate racing here. We are expecting a wet weekend, so we hope to be competitive in these conditions.”
Do you think the rain could be an ally at this moment?
“So far, we’ve performed well with a lot of water on the track because we maximize our package more. In intermediate conditions, I didn’t do very well, but I must also say that in the meantime, we’ve done a lot of work to understand the reasons, so we’ll see, but I believe that if there are those conditions, I’ll perform better than on previous occasions.”
In the last few races, we have seen Ferrari go from a good weekend in Austria to two challenging rounds at Silverstone and Budapest. What is happening?
“A large group of teams has formed, very close together, especially in qualifying, just look at the times that determined the grid in Budapest. In this scenario, every detail can make a big difference, and in Budapest, we probably left some performance here and there, which had a significant impact on our weekend. The overall picture is that we are not fast enough, we know it, and we are doing everything possible to get back to where we want to be as quickly as possible.”
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Looking back at the last 18 months, since the new regulations came into force, what is your assessment of Ferrari’s performance?
“We have made progress, but certainly not enough when compared to our direct competitors. Last year at this time, the goal was to try to win races, and now we have a group of opponents all very close, but Red Bull is clearly ahead. So, the progress we have made has not been sufficient. Fred and I are discussing it a lot, trying to find the right direction, but I can’t tell you exactly when we will be in a position to fight for victory.”
What are your hopes for the second half of this season?
“A realistic goal is to try to finish second in the Constructors’ Championship, a challenge that now includes McLaren as well since they have returned to this group. Mercedes is always there, and Aston Martin, even though they haven’t been as competitive in the last few races as they were earlier in the season, I have no doubt they will come back. So yes, that’s our goal.”
This circuit has been the subject of many safety evaluations in recent years. What is your opinion on that?
“I believe that some changes could be considered that could make a difference. I think about the limited space we have on the Kemmel straight, on both sides. If you lose control of the car in that section, there is a high chance of bouncing back onto the track after hitting the barriers. We could intervene on the layout of Eau Rouge, but I don’t think it’s right to say that this is what should be done; it’s appropriate to talk about it and discuss. Then there is the issue of visibility, and believe me, it’s really hard to describe in words because there are moments when there is simply no visibility. We are not exaggerating when we say we can’t see anything, especially when it rains heavily.”
“This is a big problem for Formula 1 as well as for motorsport in general. With our single-seaters, we create a lot of spray, and this causes quite a few accidents because we don’t have time to react if we encounter an obstacle ahead. I know it’s difficult to find a solution, but I also know that the FIA is working on it and trying to do its best, as well as evaluating whether it’s appropriate or not to start a race, an issue that may become relevant again this weekend if the forecasts are not disproven. Safety must come first and be the priority. People, including us drivers, should not complain if we cannot drive; in certain conditions, it is the only decision to make, considering what has happened in the past.”
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