Charles Leclerc is optimistic about Ferrari’s chances heading into qualifying for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, after completing his first running at the brand-new Madring circuit in Madrid. The Ferrari driver described the opening day as highly demanding but productive, with the unfamiliar layout presenting a major challenge for everyone. Despite the difficulties, Leclerc ended both Friday practice sessions near the front, finishing third in FP1 and second in FP2.
Ferrari emerged as Mercedes’ main challenger during Friday’s running, with Leclerc finishing just one-tenth of a second behind Kimi Antonelli’s leading time in the second session. The Monegasque driver said Ferrari managed to complete its planned programme and maximise its track time, an especially important achievement given that teams and drivers were learning the new circuit from scratch. He now believes there is plenty of potential to unlock before qualifying.
Leclerc, who has built a reputation for being particularly strong on street circuits, is refusing to set a specific target for Saturday. With overtaking expected to be difficult around the Madrid venue, qualifying could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the race. Rather than focusing on a particular grid position, Leclerc says his priority is extracting everything possible from the Ferrari and seeing where that performance puts him when the session ends.
Lewis Hamilton also enjoyed a competitive Friday, placing fourth in FP1 before moving up to third in FP2. However, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is remaining cautious despite the encouraging results. He stressed that Friday’s performance may not provide a complete picture because the track is expected to evolve significantly as more rubber goes down and conditions change. According to Vasseur, drivers could experience noticeable differences in car balance from one lap to another.
With Mercedes looking strong and the Madring expected to improve rapidly throughout the weekend, Leclerc knows Ferrari will need to keep pushing if it wants to fight for the front row. The team will spend Friday night analysing the data and searching for further performance, while Leclerc prepares for what he expects to be a particularly exciting qualifying battle. His goal is simple: maximise the Ferrari’s potential and produce a result that puts him in a strong position for Sunday’s inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in
Madrid.
