News Summary
- Charles Leclerc started fifth and finished fourth after Ferrari committed to an alternative hard-tyre strategy.
- The Monegasque stayed out during the Virtual Safety Car and waited for a full Safety Car or red flag that never arrived.
- Leclerc defended the gamble and said Ferrari’s race pace was stronger than the final result suggested.
Charles Leclerc insisted he has no regrets about Ferrari’s aggressive strategy in the Spanish Grand Prix after finishing fourth at Madring.
Starting fifth on hard tyres, Leclerc moved up when team-mate Lewis Hamilton retired and then remained on track when a Virtual Safety Car was triggered on lap 14.
While Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen and others stopped, Ferrari kept Leclerc out hoping a full Safety Car or red flag would eventually give him a cheaper pit stop. It never happened.
Leclerc finally stopped on lap 48 and returned to the track fourth, where he finished behind Antonelli, Verstappen and Norris.
“Starting on the hard was a risk because it’s quite difficult to get them into the right window,” Leclerc said after the race. “Our race pace was very good. We were waiting for a Safety Car that never came, but from the position we were in, it was the best we could do, so I don’t regret it.”
Leclerc also rejected the suggestion that Ferrari had definitively fallen behind Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull in the competitive order.
He felt the SF-26 had more potential than Ferrari extracted in Madrid, while also pointing to the older power unit he is using following his crash at Monza.
“Yesterday, in qualifying, we had a little bit more potential,” he said. “The car was good this weekend, but there wasn’t much we could do.”
Leclerc accepted responsibility for the situation and stressed how close the battle between F1’s leading teams has become.
“I can only take responsibility for that and try to recover in the next races,” he added. “One thing is certain: the fight is very tight, and they did a better job than us this weekend.”
Leclerc’s fourth place takes him to 167 points, fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. Antonelli leads with 292 after his eighth victory of 2026.
FAQ
Why did Ferrari keep Leclerc out during the VSC?
Leclerc had started on hard tyres and Ferrari gambled on a later Safety Car or red flag that could provide a cheaper pit stop. Neither occurred.
Does Leclerc regret Ferrari’s Madrid strategy?
No. Leclerc said it was a risk but believes it was the best option available from his position.
Where is Leclerc in the F1 standings?
Leclerc is fifth with 167 points, 125 behind championship leader Antonelli.
