The sequence of occasions in Formula 1 sprint racing involving Charles Leclerc during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend echoed a sadly acquainted sample for Ferrari this season: impressive feats on the opening lap, succeeded by a gradual lessening of the team’s expectations as the SF-25 progressively lost ground.
Commencing from the fourth position on the grid, Leclerc exploited the slipstream of McLaren’s Lando Norris along the Kemmel Straight during the initial lap and maneuvered around the outside into Les Combes to secure the third spot. However, while Norris’s team counterpart, Oscar Piastri, couldn’t get sufficiently near Max Verstappen’s Red Bull to reclaim the lead he had conceded at the initial corner, Norris possessed an adequate pace advantage over the Ferrari to overtake Leclerc at Les Combes on lap four.
Subsequently, Leclerc receded to conclude the race over 10 seconds adrift of the victor.
“There’s some knowledge we can acquire from a race of this nature,” Leclerc communicated to Sky Sports F1 thereafter. “Nevertheless, it doesn’t suggest that we’re considerably distant from the car’s peak potential. I don’t discern that we’re out of sync with the set-up or anything akin to that.
“I don’t suppose there’s any aspect within the car that instills in us the expectation that we can contend with Red Bull or McLaren, regrettably.”
Ferrari has been gradually introducing a substantial upgrade assortment across both their vehicles in preceding races, initiating with a completely redesigned undercarriage in Austria and culminating with a novel rear suspension configuration at Spa, coupled with a circuit-tailored low-drag rear wing. The undercarriage modifications were considerable, extending from the prominent ‘fences’ at the front, via new configurations for the ‘tunnels’ themselves and the exit to the diffuser, as well as novel particulars encircling the floor edges ahead of the rear wheels.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Clive Rose / Getty Images
While the drivers have expressed generally optimistic sentiments regarding the enhancements, the ultimate consequence in terms of competitiveness has been subtle at best. Having been ousted from SQ1 due to a costly spin, Lewis Hamilton ascended from 18th on the Spa sprint grid to 15th, one of the scarce drivers to achieve any overtaking in what was a tediously uneventful race. However, he appeared somewhat perplexed subsequently.
“Well, the encouraging aspect is I didn’t spin,” Hamilton conveyed to Sky Sports F1.
“And I did advance, but it was an exceptionally challenging race. We couldn’t progress within the DRS train which was unfortunate – but I’ve unquestionably gained considerable insight into the upgrades we possess.
“I was merely reflecting, a segment of the upgrade Charles has incorporated since Montreal – and you witnessed the crash he experienced there was somewhat analogous to something I encountered yesterday.”
Leclerc indeed experienced a rear-axle lock-up during the initial practice session for the Canadian GP, resulting in a spin into the wall at Turn 3 with sufficient force to necessitate a new chassis. However, Ferrari did not declare any upgrades that particular weekend.
This isn’t to imply that there were no novel components, given that there’s no prerequisite to disclose alterations unless they entail a modification to surface configurations. Nonetheless, it could equally be that Hamilton has confused his timeline considering the flood of documentation he has been dispatching to senior personnel lately.
