Leclerc expresses Ferrari surprise after inheriting Belgian pole

Charles Leclerc has expressed his surprise at earning pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix, believing he was set for a battle for fifth place.

After the first Q3 runs at a wet Spa, Leclerc was seventh, nearly 1.5s down on pole-sitter Max Verstappen, but using a fresh set of inters allowed the Ferrari driver to bank second place, some 0.6s down on Verstappen.

Owing the 10-place grid drop for the world champion, Leclerc will be credited with pole, the 25th of his career and best result in qualifying since pole in Monaco in May, but felt without the rain, the Ferrari was in the battle with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. 

“I definitely did not expect it this weekend, and obviously with the tricky conditions, we did something above our expectations, it is a good day for the team,” said Leclerc, who is joined on the front-row by Sergio Perez with Hamilton in third.

“Without this rain, P5 was probably the position we were fighting for, with the Mercedes especially, but obviously the rain has helped us a little bit. 

“But I am not going to complain, I’m really happy with the lap in Q3, and it is good to be back on the front row of the grid, but we’ve got to finalise it tomorrow.”

Leclerc’s Eau Rouge problem

Owing to the long blast from the exit of La Source, up the Eau Rouge/Raidillon hill and down the Kemmel Straight, it is often said that starting on pole at Spa is not ideal.

Wary of the slipstream that he could give Perez and Hamilton behind, Leclerc won’t make any plans until the SF-24 has crested the hill.

“Now we need to focus on [the race], and see what will happen whenever the rain is gone,” he said.

“It is not the easiest place to keep first place on the first lap, but honestly, every start is different and then once I’m through Eau Rouge, I’ll decide what is the best thing I can do, but obviously I’ll try to keep first place.”