Leclerc had a special request to Ferrari: 'Surprised him'

Charles Leclerc finally finished on the podium again in Belgium, at least to the relief of Ferrari, which is experiencing a disappointing season. The Italians were competing for race wins last year but are now fighting for the last crumbs. Leclerc seemed comfortable in the rain again, which was not the case earlier this season, team boss Fred Vasseur told GPblog and others.

At Ferrari, thoughts quickly turn back to qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. On a semi-wet track, Leclerc did not give home. The Monegasque qualified nineteenth for the race and could not place for himself why he slipped through the ice. Since then, the Ferrari driver seemed to struggle in the rain, or on a drying track. "Yes, it surprised him a bit in Barcelona, but those were also very difficult conditions to deal with. That is behind us now," said Vasseur.

With slicks in the rain

The team boss never worried: "I have known him for ages. He always [did very well] in these conditions." After difficult races in Canada and Austria, the five-time race winner came to Silverstone with a special request. He was keen to practice in the rain on slicks during free practice, says Vasseur: "To have a good feeling without pressure and without lap time, and I think he did it, and he did it perfectly." After a podium finish at Spa-Francorchamps, again after partially driving on a semi-wet track, the matter now seems to be settled.