Charles Leclerc shares Fernando Alonso’s concerns about the Madring: overtaking promises to be particularly difficult and qualifying could already determine the race.
Read more The 2027 F1 calendar takes shape: a first version revealed
Charles Leclerc expects qualifying to play a decisive role in the outcome of the first Grand Prix held on the Madring. After discovering the new Madrid circuit, the Ferrari driver joins Fernando Alonso in his analysis: overtaking opportunities should be particularly limited on Sunday.
This characteristic could push teams to prioritize their one-lap performance over their race pace in their setup choices. An approach that could benefit Ferrari, as the SF-26 immediately showed competitiveness on Friday with Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in second and third places in FP2, just a little over a tenth behind Kimi Antonelli.
Leclerc fears a race poor in overtaking
With its 22 corners and several narrow sections, the Madring represents a particularly interesting challenge for drivers on a fast lap. But what makes the circuit spectacular in qualifying could also become its main drawback in the race.
Leclerc had already identified this problem even before taking to the track on Friday. After the first practice sessions, the difficulties encountered by drivers when following another car reinforced this impression.
“I think on Sunday, overtaking opportunities will be very rare. In qualifying, however, it will be a really interesting and demanding circuit for all drivers, and that’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Fernando Alonso had made a similar observation. The Aston Martin driver believes overtaking will be difficult for everyone and even “almost impossible” with the straight-line speed deficit of his car.
Ferrari slightly changes its priorities
Leclerc therefore believes this weekend requires a different approach. While teams usually seek a compromise between qualifying performance and race pace over long stints, Ferrari might orient its setup more towards pure speed over a lap.
“This is the kind of weekend where you want to focus more on qualifying pace than race pace. On Sunday, I feel it will be difficult to gain positions, except at the start.”
This difficulty further emphasizes the importance of the third part of qualifying. A position gained or lost on Saturday could be extremely hard to recover the next day under normal race conditions.
Read more In pictures: How Ferrari and Mercedes adapt their F1 to the Madring
“Our priority will therefore be to maximize practice to ensure we arrive in Q3 with the right car and deliver a good lap. The priority will indeed be a bit more focused on qualifying.”
Grid position could be decisive
Early race simulations have already confirmed Leclerc’s concerns. George Russell notably explained on Friday that overtaking proved particularly difficult during long stints in FP2, further reinforcing the importance of starting position.
For Ferrari, this situation also represents an opportunity. The SF-26 showed great comfort from the first laps on the Madring, especially in quick changes of direction. Leclerc confirmed this performance on Saturday by finishing second in FP3 just 166 thousandths behind Antonelli.
The Monegasque thus appears as one of the main candidates for pole position. A first place on the grid would have even more value on a circuit where following then overtaking another car could prove extremely difficult.
Leclerc does not rule out a strategic race
The Ferrari driver nevertheless refuses to condemn in advance the Sunday spectacle. If on-track overtaking remains limited, tires and strategy could create opportunities to gain positions.
“I still think the race can be interesting thanks to strategy, but there might be a bit less overtaking than on other circuits.”
Tire degradation is precisely one of the main unknowns of the weekend. Several drivers reported significant graining on Friday, while the rapid evolution of grip could still change conditions by the start of the race.
For Leclerc, the conclusion remains clear: in Madrid, the result will probably have to be built from qualifying. With overtaking expected to be “very rare”, Ferrari might sacrifice part of its usual race approach to maximize the SF-26 over a lap and try to place the Monegasque as high as possible on the grid.
Read more Lewis Hamilton risks a double penalty after ignoring Ferrari’s orders in Madrid