Spa GP: Leclerc Expects Ferrari's Bounce Back

Charles Leclerc foresees challenges at Spa, as Ferrari works to control persistent bouncing issues.

Charles Leclerc lacks confidence ahead of this weekend’s Belgian GP.

The Ferrari driver actually won at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019 and also crossed the finish line first earlier this year in Monaco.

But since then, especially since a new floor was introduced in Barcelona, the Maranello-based team has been grappling with the return of the ground effect phenomenon known as “porpoising” or bouncing.

Ferrari modified the floor design for Hungary, but even team boss Frédéric Vasseur admits he’s not sure if the bouncing has improved only because the circuit is low-speed.

“Spa will allow us to check if we have done a good job over the past few weeks to mitigate the side effects in the high-speed corners of the update package we recently introduced. Now, we will see if we have also fixed the issue on high-speed tracks,” Vasseur said before Spa.

Leclerc, who has generally struggled more with the SF-24 than Carlos Sainz, is not confident.

When asked if Ferrari and he could again be favorites as in Monaco at the Belgian GP or beyond, the 26-year-old driver responded, “If we continue like this with this car, I don’t think so.”

“Monaco remains a very, very specific circuit. Just because we were strong there doesn’t mean we will be fast elsewhere. So on paper, we are favorites nowhere.”

However, Leclerc admitted that the floor adjustment in Hungary last week was a clear improvement.

“The understanding of the flat bottom is definitely evolving in the right direction. However, the car’s bouncing remains a difficult problem to solve. We are making progress, but I expect it to be a problem again at Spa.”

“On a circuit like Spa, I think it will be a real test for us, as it is probably the circuit where I expect our problems to be most visible.”

“We will see there if we have confirmation that there is still a lot of work to be done before solving our issues, or if the improvements this weekend have helped us make a step forward on these circuits.”

“But on a high-speed circuit, I expect us to struggle a bit more.”

Pressed for more details on the adopted solutions, Leclerc adds: “We have understood the issue with the type of bouncing we are facing.”

“The problem is that it’s either there or it’s not. It’s very hard to see an improvement.”

“Maybe you suffer from it less long, but it’s not like you can increase or decrease the intensity. So, whenever you suffer from it, you suffer.”

“But I’ve said it, we are making steps in the right direction. I don’t know yet if it will be enough not to suffer from it. But I still expect to see this phenomenon at Spa.”