Video: Charles Leclerc makes brilliant start in Spanish GP as Ferrari recovery begins. Charles Leclerc gained three places on the opening lap of the Spanish GP.

Charles Leclerc gains three places on opening lap in Barcelona

Charles Leclerc made an excellent start to the Spanish Grand Prix, immediately giving Ferrari hope of a strong recovery drive after a frustrating qualifying session in Barcelona.

Starting from tenth on the grid, Charles Leclerc wasted no time in attacking the cars ahead and climbed to seventh place by the end of the opening lap. It was exactly the type of aggressive but controlled launch Ferrari needed after the Monegasque driver’s Q3 crash had left him much further back than expected.

The opening corners at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya were packed with action. Max Verstappen also gained ground in the early exchanges, moving up the order and slotting between the two McLaren drivers, while Oscar Piastri began applying pressure to the Red Bull driver almost immediately.

For Ferrari, however, the key early storyline was the Moneagsque’s rapid progress. Gaining three positions in the first lap not only reduced the damage from qualifying, but also placed him back within reach of the leading group before the race had fully settled into rhythm.

With tyre degradation expected to play a major role over the 66-lap Spanish Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc’s opening lap could prove crucial. Track position is valuable in Barcelona, and moving from tenth to seventh so quickly gives Ferrari more strategic flexibility as the race develops.

The recovery mission is still far from complete, but Charles Leclerc’s start was the perfect response to a difficult Saturday and a promising first step toward turning his Spanish GP around.