Leclerc Surprises with P3 at Spa Despite Ferrari’s Struggles
You know, sometimes in Formula 1, it's not just about winning pole—it's about outperforming expectations. And that’s exactly what Charles Leclerc did in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Landing P3 might not sound earth-shattering, but considering where Ferrari thought they’d be this weekend, it was a very pleasant surprise for both Leclerc and the team.
Charles actually admitted he didn’t expect to be anywhere near the top three. Ferrari came into the weekend knowing they'd made some upgrades, but Friday had been tricky, and it wasn’t looking too promising. Still, they did some fine-tuning overnight, and things finally started to click. Charles put in a really solid lap during qualifying—one of those laps where everything just felt right. He said he was happy with how the car handled and, more importantly, satisfied that he didn’t leave anything on the table. That’s always a good sign when a driver feels like they extracted everything possible from the car.
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Now, the upgrade itself? Leclerc was pretty realistic about it. He acknowledged it was a step in the right direction but urged people not to overhype it. He said the differences are small—fine margins across a lap—but they’re moving the car in the right direction, and that's what matters. Interestingly, he also pointed out that McLaren brought upgrades too, so Ferrari isn’t closing the gap as fast as they'd like.
Looking ahead to the race, Charles is cautious. He’s got Max Verstappen breathing down his neck from P4, and he knows McLaren's race pace has been strong all weekend. He openly admitted that in the dry conditions earlier, he couldn’t keep up with them. So, while he's hoping some of the setup changes will help, he's also realistic—it might not be enough.
And then there’s the weather wildcard. Spa and rain are practically synonymous at this point, and it looks like tomorrow could be another wet one. Leclerc said wet conditions haven’t exactly been Ferrari’s strength lately, but every race is a new chance to adapt and learn. He’s keeping an open mind and focusing on looking forward, not just defending.
So while Leclerc might not be going into Sunday as the favorite, there’s a quiet optimism there. He’s happy with the progress, proud of the effort from the team, and ready to give it everything. And in a sport like F1, where so much can change in just one lap—especially at Spa—that might be just the mindset he needs.
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