During the Belgian GP Sprint on Saturday, Charles Leclerc expressed clear frustration with his race engineer, Bryan Bozzi, demanding that he stop giving suggestions and only inform him about the last lap. Leclerc’s dissatisfaction came as he struggled to improve from his P4 starting position, highlighting tension amid challenging race conditions.
Leclerc began the Sprint from fourth place, matching his qualifying position from Friday’s shootout, but failed to gain any ground. Max Verstappen secured pole and went on to win the Sprint comfortably ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who finished close behind the Dutchman. Despite flashes of speed from the Ferrari team, Leclerc finished nearly 10 seconds behind Verstappen, while the McLarens trailed by just under a second.
The Monegasque driver maintained a slim three-second margin over Esteban Ocon driving for Haas, yet his performance fell short of expectations. This frustration was audible during the team radio exchange when Bozzi offered race suggestions, prompting Leclerc’s sharp response:
“Bryan, just stop. Just tell me when it’s the last lap.”
Clearly, Leclerc preferred to rely on his own judgment rather than following team strategy during the 15-lap Sprint. Meanwhile, his teammate Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult day, starting from 18th on the grid and finishing 15th, with only a modest gain of three positions. The weekend still holds opportunities, with qualifying and the main race on Sunday offering chances for improvement by the Ferrari drivers.
Leclerc Reacts to Ferrari’s Upgrades After Belgian GP Sprint
After the Sprint race, Charles Leclerc shared his perspective on the technical upgrades Ferrari introduced for the Belgian GP weekend. He acknowledged progress, but remained realistic about the competition level, noting that rivals like McLaren had also improved their cars.
“The evolution has worked. McLaren has also made updates, so we are not getting close. However, the evolution has worked on our side, so that’s positive, but we need more to try to close the gap to McLaren.”
Leclerc expressed disappointment with the Sprint result, reflecting on how the leaders managed their tires effectively early on, which created a significant pace gap during the middle phases of the race.
“The result is a bit disappointing, because I thought there could be something to do. But the top three managed their tires in the first three laps, and when they started pushing, there was a gap of four tenths per lap. That’s the best you can do,” he further added, via Canal+.
Following 12 races and three Sprint events, Leclerc currently sits fifth in the Drivers’ Championship standings with 124 points, just ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton who has 106 points in sixth place. Ferrari continues to hold second place in the Constructors’ Championship, amassing 227 points.
The frustrations voiced during the Sprint highlight the challenges Ferrari faces as it seeks to close the gap on leading teams like Red Bull and McLaren. How well Leclerc and the team adapt in the remaining qualifying session and the main Grand Prix on Sunday will be critical in shaping their fortunes for the Belgian GP weekend.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Charles Leclerc’s net worth? Charles Leclerc’s net worth has grown exponentially in recent years, but by 2025, his fortune is estimated to be around $50 million, according to sources such as Celebrity Net Worth and Planet F1.
A. Is Charles Leclerc a billionaire?
No, Charles Leclerc is not a billionaire. As a Formula 1 driver, he earns a lot, but his net worth is not in the billions.
Q. Does Charles Leclerc have a PhD?
A. Charles Leclerc pursued advanced studies in neuropsychology at Université de Montréal, following a clinical/scientist model. His research focused on how the brain adapts when certain areas lack full stimulation. This work led to multiple scientific articles.