F1, Spa: Charles Leclerc Hasn’t Forgotten Those Who Are No Longer With Us

Fresh off his victory at Silverstone, which allowed him to return to the top step of the podium nearly two years after his last win, Charles Leclerc confirms his positive outlook ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, though he continues to name Mercedes—Ferrari’s direct rival this season—as the favorite.

“Arriving here after a victory, especially after a few tough races, feels great: it confirms that the work we’ve done is paying off,” said the Monegasque driver at a press conference. “So far, we’ve managed to do it on just one track; now we have to prove it again. I remain convinced that when I’m able to drive the car the right way, the results follow. At Silverstone, I felt more comfortable, even though in terms of overall performance there are still aspects to analyze.”

“As for the favorites, I don’t think much has changed since Silverstone: these are tracks that suit Mercedes better,” the Ferrari driver clarified. In England, the result was a surprise even for us, and I won’t deny that there was an element of luck.”

At Spa-Francorchamps, Leclerc has mixed feelings. In Belgium, in fact, the 28-year-old claimed his first F1 victory in 2019, but he also lost someone important to him just one day earlier, due to a horrific accident during the F2 race. “I always feel a special emotion when I come here,” he explained. “I won my first Formula 1 race here, but I also lost my friend Anthoine Hubert.”