Charles Leclerc heads into the Belgian Grand Prix on the back of a remarkable victory at Silverstone. It was remarkable because Ferrari managed to win on a circuit that, at least on paper, appeared far better suited to Mercedes, whose car perfectly matched the characteristics of the famous British track. While Kimi Antonelli’s problem with his front-left wheel undoubtedly played a part in the outcome, Ferrari still deserves enormous credit for once again overturning pre-race expectations, just as it had already done in Barcelona.
The victory was particularly important for Charles Leclerc. It brought a smile back to the Monegasque driver after a difficult spell marked by underwhelming performances and a car with which he struggled to build confidence. First came the braking issues, then the decision to adopt Lewis Hamilton’s setup direction. Eventually, when Leclerc trusted his own instincts again and relied on the sensations he was feeling behind the wheel, everything changed. He rediscovered his competitiveness, returned to winning ways and once again established himself as one of Ferrari’s key reference points.
Charles Leclerc looks ahead to Spa and beyond
With the British Grand Prix now behind him, Charles Leclerc is already focused on the next challenge: the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Speaking ahead of the weekend, as reported by GpBlog, the Ferrari driver shared his thoughts without making bold predictions. Reflecting once more on Silverstone, he explained that the team had expected a far more difficult weekend and outlined the approach he intends to follow throughout the remainder of the season.
“Personally, I think I’ll just focus on trying to rediscover that feeling with the car. If I have that feeling, I’m confident I can extract the maximum from this car. If I don’t have it, then things could become more complicated,” Leclerc said after the British Grand Prix. “As for the overall result, of course we’re pushing as hard as we can as a team to fight and challenge Mercedes.”
He continued: “We expected Silverstone to be a very difficult weekend. We expected Spa to be even more difficult. Considering that we’ve won today, maybe we’re a little closer than we initially thought. But there’s still everything to prove, and that’s why we also need to understand why this weekend was so exceptionally positive compared to our expectations. We’ll focus on all of that.”
Heading into the next round of the championship, Leclerc’s philosophy closely mirrors that of team principal Fred Vasseur. Rather than becoming obsessed with the final objective, both believe success is built through a series of small but consistent steps. Every race weekend should become another piece of a much larger puzzle, gradually building a championship campaign over the course of the season.
“I won’t focus only on winning because that would be the wrong approach. I’ll focus only on the process of finding the best feeling with the car and maximising its potential.”
Leclerc also made a particularly interesting point. He explained that he does not want to dwell on individual victories but instead wants to continue improving his connection with the SF-26. While this is something he has mentioned before, it could also suggest that, despite the Silverstone triumph, he still believes there are pieces missing before he feels completely comfortable with the car. It may also indicate that Silverstone represents only the beginning of his resurgence alongside Ferrari’s 2026 challenger.
Ferrari faces its biggest test at Spa
Attention now shifts to the next race at the Stavelot circuit, a venue that shares several characteristics with both Silverstone and Barcelona. Those are two tracks where Ferrari has already demonstrated it can fight at the front, with victories for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton respectively. Delivering another strong performance in Belgium would provide perhaps the clearest confirmation yet of the true competitiveness of the SF-26.
Ferrari’s main weakness remains well known: the power unit still gives away some performance to Mercedes. The Scuderia hopes to reduce that gap further when the remaining 2% of the ADUO upgrade is introduced, most likely between the Dutch Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix. In terms of chassis and aerodynamics, however, Ferrari has looked exceptionally strong, arguably the benchmark of the current Formula 1 grid. That strength was evident in Barcelona, confirmed again at Silverstone and could once again be on display at Spa, although caution remains appropriate until the cars are back on track.
A competitive weekend in Belgium would confirm two crucial aspects. The first concerns the confidence both drivers have developed with the SF-26. Spa-Francorchamps is one of the circuits that most rewards driver commitment and precision, making it an ideal venue to judge how closely a driver is working in harmony with the car. The second is the validation of Ferrari’s technical package, proving that the improvements seen over recent races are not simply circuit-specific.
The Belgian circuit presents a unique challenge. From La Source through to Les Combes, the lap features an extended high-speed section. Last season, Turns 3, 4 and 5 were taken completely flat out, but this year battery management introduces additional uncertainty. On paper, the opening sector should favour Mercedes, leaving Ferrari at a slight disadvantage. However, once the cars reach the more technical middle sector, the SF-26 could begin to showcase its strongest qualities.
The objective will be to remain competitive both in qualifying and in the race itself. Above all, if Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton manage to line up close to the front row, securing the lead into the opening laps will be essential. Running in clean air could prove decisive, allowing Ferrari to fully exploit the strengths of the SF-26 without being compromised by turbulent air.
Spa weather and tyres could shape the weekend
Another fascinating factor surrounding the Belgian Grand Prix is the weather. Spa-Francorchamps has earned its reputation as one of Formula 1’s most unpredictable circuits, where conditions can change dramatically from one corner to the next. Current forecasts suggest temperatures will remain below 25°C, while there is also a significant chance of rain throughout the weekend. As Formula 1 has demonstrated countless times, rain has the ability to completely reshape the competitive order.
In wet conditions, the power unit advantage becomes less significant, potentially giving Ferrari a valuable opportunity to close the gap to Mercedes. Should the race remain dry, Pirelli has selected the same tyre compounds used in Barcelona—C2, C3 and C4. Those compounds suited the Ferrari extremely well earlier this season, providing another reason for optimism heading into Spa.
That is why securing another strong result in Belgium could prove extremely important, not only for this weekend but also for the momentum it would generate heading into the races that follow.
After all, regardless of how reluctant everyone may be to discuss it openly, there is still a championship battle to consider. While Kimi Antonelli’s lead in the standings remains substantial, catching George Russell appears far more realistic given his continuing struggle to feel completely comfortable with the Mercedes. And Formula 1 has repeatedly shown that anything can happen over the course of a season. Being ready to seize every opportunity when it arises can ultimately make all the difference in a title fight.
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