Leclerc “surprised” after grabbing unexpected third place in qualifying

Having lacked long-run pace in the Spa F1 Sprint, Ferrari’s eight-time F1 race winner Charles Leclerc was left surprised after grabbing third place for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Having struggled to match the performance of the McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen all through the weekend, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc put in a brilliant effort to secure third place on the grid for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Asked how much of a surprise it was for him to be in the top three in the main qualifying session, Leclerc noted: “Quite big. I think we expected to be P4, but with a significant gap in front. At the end, the gap is still significant, but a little bit less than what we initially expected, so that's positive.

“We brought upgrades this weekend which have been working since the beginning, but we had to do some fine tunings from yesterday to today. It's going in the right direction, so I'm very happy.

“I think it was also a really good lap. I don't think I left much on the table with the potential we had today, so for that, I'm happy as well. However, it's only P3, so now we'll see what we can do tomorrow.

Ferrari have introduced a heavily-revised rear suspension at Spa-Francorchamps, but the two qualifying sessions and the sprint race indicated that the Scuderia still does not have a package which would be enough to challenge the field-leading McLaren.

“A little bit. But then I think as always, especially for our team, everything is hyped up a lot. Yes, it's an upgrade and it's a step in the right direction, but we are still speaking about very fine differences over a whole lap.

“So, it feels a little bit different, and it's going in the right direction. Again, that's thanks to the hard work that the whole team has done back at the factory.

“Unfortunately for us, McLaren has also brought a few things this weekend and seem to have done a small step in the right direction as well. So, it's very difficult to close the gap. But I think we are doing a good job as a team and we just need to keep working.

Signing off with a word for his expectations for the race, Leclerc noted: “Wet weather, we were speaking about it in the last race weekend. I don't think it's a strength for our car at the moment.

“We are really struggling. But having said that, every weekend is different. We'll learn from the past and see what's possible tomorrow. I will only be able to tell after the first few laps to see where we are. But I'll try to look forward before looking in mirrors.”