Charles Leclerc said Ferrari’s competitive race pace allowed him to fight for victory at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, even though the SF-26’s expected straight-line weaknesses were fully exposed at Spa-Francorchamps. The Monegasque led for a significant part of the race after benefiting from a well-timed Virtual Safety Car, but he was eventually overtaken by Kimi Antonelli and finished second.
The result earned Charles Leclerc 18 valuable championship points and represented another encouraging performance for Ferrari. Although he reduced his deficits to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, his gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli increased from 71 to 78 points following the Mercedes driver’s victory.
Charles Leclerc secures 18 valuable points at Spa
Charles Leclerc’s second place was an important result on a circuit where Ferrari had anticipated difficulties. Spa’s long full-throttle sections placed a particular emphasis on power-unit performance and electrical energy deployment, two areas in which the SF-26 was not expected to have an advantage over Mercedes and Red Bull.
Ferrari had therefore adopted a cautious outlook before the weekend, with Charles Leclerc previously outlining Ferrari’s expectations for the Belgian Grand Prix. Despite those concerns, the number 16 car remained competitive throughout the race and was able to challenge Kimi Antonelli until the closing stages.
The Virtual Safety Car worked in Charles Leclerc’s favour and allowed him to move ahead of the Mercedes after the pit-stop phase. Unlike on previous occasions, Kimi Antonelli’s pursuit was not interrupted by a technical problem, and the Italian eventually completed the decisive overtake.
Strong energy deployment transforms Charles Leclerc’s start
Speaking to Sky after the race, Charles Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari’s anticipated limitations had remained evident, but he also highlighted the strong start that allowed him to gain positions against George Russell and Max Verstappen.
“We still had the weaknesses we expected,” Charles Leclerc said. “Honestly, the start was fun from our car. We had very strong energy deployment coming out of Eau Rouge, and that allowed me to overtake both George and Max further along the straight, so that was nice.”
The Ferrari driver’s comments underlined how important electrical deployment was around Spa. The circuit’s combination of Eau Rouge, Raidillon and the Kemmel Straight rewards cars capable of releasing a large amount of energy at the right moment, although teams must also carefully manage how much remains available across the rest of the lap.
The challenge had already been expected after the FIA introduced tighter energy-management requirements for Spa. Ferrari’s strong deployment at the beginning of the race helped Charles Leclerc attack, but its overall straight-line performance remained a limitation over the full distance.
Charles Leclerc admits fortune helped Ferrari again
Charles Leclerc also recognised that the timing of the Virtual Safety Car had played a major role in giving Ferrari an opportunity to lead the race. The neutralisation allowed him to complete his pit stop at an advantageous moment and emerge ahead of Kimi Antonelli.
“After that, of course, I also had a little bit of luck with the Virtual Safety Car,” Charles Leclerc continued. “That is two weekends in a row when things have gone well for me. I will take that luck, but I must not forget that fortune was also on my side.”
His admission reflected a realistic assessment of Ferrari’s race. The team maximised the opportunity created by the Virtual Safety Car, but the strategic advantage alone would not have been enough without the SF-26’s solid underlying pace and Charles Leclerc’s ability to manage the tyres while defending the lead.
The result also continued Ferrari’s encouraging recent run, although team principal Fred Vasseur has maintained a measured public approach when discussing whether Ferrari can genuinely challenge for the championship.
Ferrari’s straight-line deficit becomes decisive
Once Kimi Antonelli moved into clean air and began closing the gap, Ferrari’s weakness on the straights became increasingly difficult to overcome. Charles Leclerc tried to maximise his pace through the corners and use the slipstream after losing the lead, but he was unable to get close enough to attempt a counterattack.
“We were still struggling on the straights today, but the pace was not bad,” Charles Leclerc added. “I was also surprised because, when Kimi passed me, I thought he would pull away easily. Instead, he stayed there.”
“I believed until the end because, with the slipstream, I could remain close, but I did not have enough.”
Charles Leclerc’s ability to remain within range of Kimi Antonelli was nevertheless a positive sign for Ferrari. He had expected the Mercedes to establish a comfortable advantage once it moved ahead, but the SF-26 remained competitive enough to keep the pressure on until the finish.
Ultimately, however, Ferrari’s straight-line deficit prevented Charles Leclerc from launching a serious challenge to regain first place. The Monegasque could remain close with the benefit of the tow, but he lacked the additional performance required to attack the Mercedes.
Second place therefore represented a valuable outcome rather than a missed opportunity. Charles Leclerc collected 18 points, reduced the gap to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell and demonstrated that Ferrari could fight near the front even at a circuit expected to expose the SF-26’s main weaknesses.
The championship situation remains demanding, with Charles Leclerc now 78 points behind Kimi Antonelli. However, his Belgian Grand Prix performance showed that Ferrari’s race pace is improving and that the team can capitalise when strategy, tyre management and circumstances create an opportunity.
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