“Maybe with a Mercedes engine”: Charles Leclerc’s blunt verdict before Belgian GP. Charles Leclerc explains Ferrari’s straight-line weakness at Belgian GP.

Charles Leclerc is not convinced Ferrari will be able to gain many positions from the second row of the grid in the Belgian Grand Prix, with the Monegasque driver expecting the SF-26’s straight-line performance to make both attacking and defending difficult at Spa-Francorchamps. After qualifying, Charles Leclerc even joked that a comeback might be possible by fitting a Mercedes engine, before admitting that Ferrari will have to maximise the package it currently has.

Charles Leclerc’s final qualifying attempt was also affected by a yellow flag displayed by a marshal close to the entrance to the pit lane. The Ferrari driver lifted off the throttle because he did not want to risk receiving a penalty, although the signal ultimately created confusion rather than indicating a danger directly on the racing line.

Charles Leclerc explains the Spa yellow-flag confusion

During his post-qualifying interviews, Charles Leclerc openly described the incident as a “misunderstanding”. However, he did not attempt to create a controversy around the decision or blame the marshals for his starting position. A more detailed explanation of the late Spa yellow-flag incident also clarifies why the Ferrari driver decided to abandon the risk and slow down.

Instead, Charles Leclerc focused primarily on Ferrari’s limitations along the straights when assessing his prospects for the race. In Ferrari’s official press release, he acknowledged that the characteristics of Spa-Francorchamps are unlikely to make overtaking or defending straightforward for the SF-26.

“This circuit does not particularly suit the characteristics of our car and it could be difficult both to overtake and to defend in the race,” Charles Leclerc said. “We will try to gain a few positions at the start and see how the race develops. A podium would be a good result.”

Ferrari’s straight-line speed limits Charles Leclerc’s Belgian GP ambitions

Charles Leclerc was more relaxed and direct when speaking to French broadcaster Canal+. The Ferrari driver explained that the team had expected Spa to be one of the more complicated circuits because of its straight-line demands, although the Italian team had held similar concerns before the previous round at Silverstone.

Ferrari ultimately performed much better than anticipated at the British Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc does not believe the team can realistically expect the same outcome in Belgium. Ferrari’s approach to balancing downforce and efficiency has been a central element of its Spa setup strategy, as the team attempts to limit the disadvantage on the circuit’s long straights without sacrificing too much cornering performance.

“In terms of straight-line speed, we expected this to be a more difficult track for us,” Charles Leclerc explained. “Basically, it is a little like what we expected at Silverstone, where things actually went much better than we thought. Realistically, repeating what we did at Silverstone will be difficult, so we will try to finish on the podium.”

The assessment reflects Ferrari’s complicated qualifying picture. Although the SF-26 showed enough performance to place Charles Leclerc on the second row, its difficulties on the straights could become more damaging during the race, particularly when the Monegasque driver attempts to attack a rival or protect his position. The wider Ferrari qualifying analysis from Spa provides further context on the strengths and limitations of the car around the Belgian circuit.

Charles Leclerc jokes about fitting a Mercedes engine

Charles Leclerc ended the interview with a sarcastic response when asked whether everything would be possible during the race. His answer underlined how little confidence he currently has in Ferrari’s ability to make progress through the field using straight-line speed alone.

When the journalist asked, “Will everything be possible in the race?”, Charles Leclerc replied: “Yes, maybe by fitting a Mercedes engine… With the Ferrari engine, it could be a little more complicated. The straights are not exactly our strength. We will try to make the most of what we have.”

Ferrari’s immediate objective will therefore be to gain positions at the start and remain within reach of the leading group. However, based on Charles Leclerc’s assessment, securing a podium rather than challenging for victory would already represent a positive result from the Belgian Grand Prix.