Charles Leclerc won his first F1 race with Ferrari at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix, but the Monegasque is on alert for the 2025 round after speaking with Lewis Hamilton.
F1 has headed to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend in round 13 after a mini-break following an unsatisfactory British Grand Prix for the Scuderia earlier this July. Ferrari failed to see out their pole position-winning potential at Silverstone and did not challenge for the win, either.
Hamilton finished the British GP 39.812 seconds behind race-winner Lando Norris, and even failed to catch Nico Hulkenberg as the Sauber star scored his debut podium. Leclerc finished the British GP in P14 owing to a poor strategy after changing onto dry tyres while it was wet.
Maranello chiefs will now hope that Hamilton and Leclerc can respond at Spa, where Ferrari will debut a rear suspension upgrade at the Belgian GP. It is set to be the final major update that the pride of Italy will introduce in the 2025 F1 season, as they shift their focus to 2026.
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Charles Leclerc ‘spoke’ with Lewis Hamilton about the challenge of a wet Belgian GP
Ferrari are still the only one out of F1’s big four teams who are yet to win a Grand Prix or get a pole position this year. So, the Scuderia hope their rear suspension upgrade at the Belgian GP lets them run the SF-25 lower to the ground and end the unpredictability of its rear-end.
But with rain on the forecast for Friday at the Belgian GP, Leclerc fears that Ferrari face ‘a lot of work’ after speaking with Hamilton about the challenge of Spa in the wet. Ferrari only get one practice session to dial their upgrade in, as well, as the Belgian GP is an F1 Sprint event.
“It’s raining, but I’m always smiling,” Leclerc told Sky Italia at Spa. “And, anyway, it’s another opportunity if it stays like this. As for the feeling, we need to find something. We also spoke with Hamilton about his previous experiences, and there’s a lot of work to do.”
Only Michael Schumacher has ever won the Belgian GP more often than Hamilton, who has enjoyed five victories at Spa. The Briton won the event in 2010, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2024, with the 2024 Belgian GP marking Hamilton’s final win for Mercedes before joining Ferrari.
What is the weather forecast for the 2025 F1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps?
Low-lying fog has already caused issues at Spa this week, as Formula 3 had to delay its only practice session on Friday morning. Conditions in the Ardennes forest may create issues all weekend, as well, as passing showers will remain on the radar throughout the event at Spa.
The forecast for the 2025 Formula 1 Belgian GP poses a wet start with rain remaining on the radar for the only practice session. Conditions could improve for Sprint Qualifying on Friday afternoon, but showers might create some headaches as teams try to time their flying runs.
Friday should see the worst of the conditions, so Leclerc’s fears about Ferrari having ‘a lot of work’ might ease before Saturday’s qualifying for the Belgian GP. He will likely hope his team gain enough data in the Sprint if it is the only fully-dry session to make any needed changes.
