Charles Leclerc believes one of the Ferrari SF-26’s defining strengths may work against the team at Zandvoort, where he will start sixth in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix and is hoping changeable weather can help him recover. Ferrari has both cars on the third row and will need to fight forward if it is to return to the podium after missing out at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Overtaking at Zandvoort is far from straightforward, making the start particularly important for both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari has saved a fresh set of Soft tyres for the Grand Prix, so there is a strong possibility that both drivers will start on the softer compound in an attempt to maximise their launch when the lights go out. With track position so valuable at the Dutch circuit, the opening phase of the race could prove crucial.
Charles Leclerc explains Ferrari SF-26’s ‘race car’ characteristic
Charles Leclerc highlighted one characteristic of the Ferrari SF-26 that carries particular significance at Zandvoort.
“The Ferrari SF-26 is a ‘race car’ and I’m happy that it is,” the Ferrari driver said. “On tracks like this, however, that characteristic doesn’t help.”
The difficulty of overtaking around Zandvoort means strong race performance alone may not be enough to compensate easily for starting further down the grid. Ferrari therefore faces the challenge of converting its race pace into positions on a circuit where passing opportunities are limited, while rivals are also looking for performance gains during the Dutch GP weekend, with McLaren introducing rear-end upgrades for Zandvoort.
Charles Leclerc hopes rain can help Ferrari recover at Zandvoort
Ferrari’s extra fresh Soft set could provide another option as the team evaluates its Dutch Grand Prix tyre strategy, but Charles Leclerc is also hoping the weather introduces another variable into the race.
“The weather has definitely been very changeable so far,” Charles Leclerc added. “Starting sixth, a bit of rain could help me make up some ground.”
For Ferrari, a disrupted race could create opportunities to recover from the third row and bring the podium back into contention. With overtaking difficult in normal conditions, Charles Leclerc is hoping the unpredictable Zandvoort weather can make the Dutch Grand Prix considerably more open.
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