Charles Leclerc secured another podium finish for Ferrari at the Belgian Grand Prix after a tense and tactical battle with Max Verstappen. Starting from third on the grid, Leclerc managed to hold off the Red Bull driver throughout the race, especially in the tricky opening stages on intermediate tyres. Despite tire wear and constant pressure from behind, he maintained his position and earned his fifth podium of the season.
The pivotal moment came when both Leclerc and Verstappen pitted for slicks at the same time. Verstappen remained close — within two seconds — for most of the race, but was unable to overtake the Ferrari. Leclerc’s resilience paid off as he claimed his third consecutive third-place finish at Spa, successfully defending against Verstappen with a slim margin of error on the drying track.
Leclerc acknowledged the difficulty of keeping Verstappen behind, especially given Ferrari’s lower downforce compared to McLaren and Red Bull. The Monegasque driver said the early laps were the most challenging, where even a small mistake of drifting a few centimeters off the dry line could have ended in disaster due to the slippery conditions.
At one point during the race, Leclerc asked his race engineer Bryan Bozzi for some radio silence. The tension was so high that Leclerc preferred to focus fully without extra input, although he admitted Bozzi was only trying to help by providing useful information. The constant threat from Verstappen meant that full concentration was necessary to avoid errors.
Looking ahead, Leclerc was optimistic about Ferrari’s performance and recent upgrades. He believes the improvements are a step in the right direction and hopes they can start challenging McLaren more consistently. Leclerc was satisfied with the team’s showing at Spa and sees the result as a sign of progress in their ongoing fight at the front of the field.
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