Charles Leclerc | F1 News

🇫🇷 To celebrate the release of the new Spider-Man film, Esteban Ocon will race with a special-edition helmet at the Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix. An identical helmet will also be presented to Tom Holland.

🇩🇪 Nico Hülkenberg has also unveiled a special helmet for the Belgian Grand Prix.

More photos in the comments.

#BelgianGP26
@charlesleclerc

⚙️ More technical details have emerged ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, with several teams introducing updates or adapting their cars to Spa’s unique demands.

🇦🇹 Red Bull

🇫🇷 Isack Hadjar has confirmed that he will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid.

Red Bull will install a new power unit in the Frenchman’s car, triggering a grid penalty that will send him to the rear of the field regardless of his qualifying result.

Red Bull will not use its experimental “Macarena” system at Spa.
Reports suggest that in both incidents involving Max Verstappen, a small channel within the mechanism remained open. This resulted in a loss of rear-end stability and made the car extremely difficult to control.
The team is therefore expected to return to a more conventional configuration while it continues investigating the issue.

🇬🇧 McLaren

McLaren has confirmed that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will receive the latest Mercedes power-unit specification at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The team has also brought a new rear wing to Spa, which will be evaluated during the weekend.
“We have arrived at Spa with a new rear wing that has been part of our development programme for some time.
“We expect it to provide a small improvement in the car’s efficiency, although we do not anticipate a significant change in our overall competitiveness.”

🇺🇸 Williams

Williams expects Spa to be by far the most energy-sensitive circuit encountered this season.
The team predicts that the battery will operate across almost its entire usable range: fully charged by Turn 1, depleted by Turn 5, recharged by the exit of Turn 14 and emptied again by Turn 18.
This is likely to leave the second sector with limited electrical deployment. Significant clipping could therefore occur on both low-fuel qualifying laps and high-fuel race runs.

🇩🇪 Mercedes

Mercedes has introduced a highly complex new front-wing design for Spa.
Additional small winglets have been positioned beneath the wing’s lower plane, allowing the team to further refine airflow management around the front of the car.

#Updates #BelgianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇬🇧 Lando Norris will take a 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix.

McLaren has elected to fit his car with a fourth battery of the season, exceeding the permitted allocation.

As reported by F1 journalist Jon Noble, the team will install “the upgraded battery that other Mercedes cars ran from the Austrian GP,” featuring improved reliability.

#BelgianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇧🇪 The 2026 Belgian Grand Prix weekend is just around the corner.

⏱ Here is the complete Formula 1 schedule, with every session listed in both local Spa-Francorchamps time (CEST) and UTC for viewers around the world.

Date: Friday, July 17
Session: Free Practice 1
Local time: 1:30 PM–2:30 PM, Spa-Francorchamps time
International time: 11:30 AM–12:30 PM UTC

Date: Friday, July 17
Session: Free Practice 2
Local time: 5:00 PM–6:00 PM, Spa-Francorchamps time
International time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM UTC

Date: Saturday, July 18
Session: Free Practice 3
Local time: 12:30 PM–1:30 PM, Spa-Francorchamps time
International time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM UTC

Date: Saturday, July 18
Session: Qualifying
Local time: 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, Spa-Francorchamps time
International time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM UTC

Date: Sunday, July 19
Session: Race
Local time: 3:00 PM, Spa-Francorchamps time
International time: 1:00 PM UTC

#BelgianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇧🇭 Bahrain is now highly unlikely to return to the Formula 1 calendar this autumn.

Pirelli Motorsport chief Dario Marrafuschi has effectively ruled out the possibility, explaining that the company needs around 15 weeks to plan and transport the tyres required for a Grand Prix — more time than remains before the proposed race date.

🏎 The renewed instability in the Middle East has made the situation even more complicated. Standard freight routes are either unavailable or considered too risky, while alternatives through the Suez Canal, Saudi Arabia or around Africa cannot be reliably planned.

“Uncertainty is the dominant factor at the moment,” Marrafuschi admitted, adding that Pirelli cannot currently estimate how long it would take to deliver the necessary equipment to a potential Middle Eastern race.

@charlesleclerc

🇧🇪 The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix remains one of the strangest races in Formula 1 history.

Heavy rain and dangerously poor visibility prevented any competitive racing at Spa-Francorchamps. After hours of delays, the field completed just three laps, all behind the Safety Car, before the race was stopped.

The final classification was effectively determined by qualifying:

🇦🇹 Max Verstappen
🇺🇸 George Russell
🇩🇪 Lewis Hamilton

Verstappen was declared the winner from pole position, while Russell claimed his first Formula 1 podium and delivered Williams its first podium finish since 2017. Hamilton completed the top three. Half points were awarded under the regulations in force at the time. Officially, it became the shortest race in Formula 1 history.

#achievements #BelgianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇲🇽 The High Performance Podcast has released a new episode featuring Sergio Pérez. The full conversation is available on the show’s YouTube channel.

🇦🇹 Here are some of Pérez’s answers about Red Bull’s system, Max Verstappen and his new chapter with Cadillac.

— How do you reflect on your time at Red Bull?

“It was a great period — fantastic, I would say. I knew I was joining a project that had been built around Max, and I understood what I was signing up for. When I first met Christian, he told me: ‘We race with two cars because we have to.’ I thought: ‘You know what? I am going to come here and make the absolute most of every aspect.’

And that is exactly what I did. With the tools available to me, I believe I delivered beyond my maximum in every area. Everything worked perfectly.

Of course, there were some extremely difficult periods at Red Bull, particularly towards the end. There was pressure, and there were tensions within the team. We had achieved so much success that, I think, people became bored and started fighting among themselves, creating a lot of drama. But they were four fantastic years. Once I left and they brought in other drivers, they understood the job I had done for them during those four seasons.”

On Max Verstappen, Cadillac and other F1 drivers:

“Competing against Max in any other team would already be extremely difficult, but facing him at Red Bull — with his team and his people around him — is even tougher. You need the very best people beside you in every area, and he has them. The engineering resources, senior leadership and experience are all directed towards Max. But I knew that before joining, so I thought: ‘I can either complain, or I can work with what I have.’

That is what I did for four years. I kept my own engineering group together throughout that period, and I am extremely proud of it.

Max is a force who drives everyone around him forward. He is an incredibly strong and complete driver in every respect, and watching him taught me a great deal about leading a team. Max is a natural leader. He pushes everyone around him to raise their level. He knows exactly what he needs to be fast, where improvements are required, and he works incredibly hard.

Watching him and learning from him made me a faster driver. At the same time, not always having the tools I needed forced me to raise my own level.

The only reason I survived at Red Bull was the character I had built. I accepted the position I was in. You cannot fight the system too aggressively because, eventually, it will break you. At Red Bull, I was effectively on my own. From a management perspective, I felt there was very little I could do against that system.

I felt supported up to a certain point by Christian and Helmut. They were happy when I won, but ultimately I was always reminded that the entire project had been built around Max.

Cadillac can become my own project. It gives me an opportunity to prove to myself that I am one of the best, because I have always believed that. My time at Red Bull obviously damaged my confidence, but that is precisely why I decided to return.

When I left, one of the Red Bull engineers told me: ‘Wherever you go, you are incredibly fast, and all of us know it.’ Deep down, I always knew what the real problem was — and they knew it too.

Many drivers will finish their Formula One careers without a victory or even a podium, and it will not be because they performed badly or did not deserve one. They are excellent racing drivers. It is remarkable, for example, that Nico Hülkenberg has only one podium in his entire career. I grew up racing against him, and he is one of the best drivers out there. He simply never had the opportunity — he was not in the right place at the right time. That is Formula One.”

What do you think of Sergio Pérez’s comments? And how do you assess his four years at Red Bull?
#interview
@charlesleclerc

🇧🇪🇮🇹 Ferrari is reportedly preparing a more aggressive version of its “Macarena” rear wing for Spa, with the revised design expected to deliver up to 11 km/h more top speed on the circuit’s long straights.

The Scuderia is understood to be unconcerned by possible FIA intervention. Unlike rival concepts, Ferrari’s system has operated reliably, making it the only fully functional solution of its kind so far.

Ferrari may also remove its FTM blown-exhaust system in Belgium. That would recover an estimated seven horsepower, although the team would sacrifice some rear downforce in return.

#BelgianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🖥 We have prepared a concise guide to the key terms of the 2026 Formula 1 season. In future posts, we will link back to this glossary whenever a term requires clarification, making it a permanent reference point throughout the season.

⚙️2026 REGULATIONS — THE NEW ERA

Active Aero — a system that changes the position of the front and rear wings depending on the section of the circuit.

Straight Mode — a low-drag configuration used on designated straights to increase speed.

Corner Mode — a high-downforce configuration used for maximum grip through corners.

Full Active Aero — both the front and rear wings operate normally, primarily in dry conditions.

Partial Active Aero — only part of the system remains available due to rain, yellow flags or other safety restrictions.

Active Aero Disabled — Race Control completely prohibits the use of Straight Mode.

Overtake Mode — additional electrical power available to a driver who is within one second of the car ahead at the detection point.

Boost — driver-controlled deployment of stored electrical energy for attacking or defending.

Recharge — the process of recovering and storing electrical energy.

ADUO — Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities given to underperforming power unit manufacturers.

🏎 POWER UNIT — WHAT POWERS THE CAR

Power Unit — the complete propulsion system combining the combustion engine and electrical components.

ICE — the internal combustion engine.

MGU-K — the electrical unit that recovers energy under braking and provides additional power.

Energy Store — the battery used to store recovered electrical energy.

Turbocharger — a component that uses exhaust gases to increase engine performance.

Sustainable Fuel — fuel produced from sustainable sources without using new fossil carbon.

🛞 TYRES — COMPOUNDS AND CONDITIONS

🛞 Soft — the fastest dry-weather tyre, offering maximum grip but lower durability.

🛞 Medium — the balanced dry-weather tyre, combining speed and durability.

🛞 Hard — the most durable dry-weather tyre, designed for longer stints.

🛞 Intermediate — a tyre for damp conditions and light rain.

🛞 Wet — a tyre for heavy rain and significant standing water.

🗓 RACE WEEKEND — SESSION FORMAT

Free Practice — sessions used to understand the car, tyres and circuit.

Qualifying — the session that determines the starting grid for the Grand Prix.

1️⃣ Q1 — the first qualifying segment, eliminating the six slowest drivers.

2️⃣ Q2 — the second qualifying segment, eliminating another six drivers.

3️⃣ Q3 — the final segment in which the ten fastest drivers compete for pole position.

Sprint — a shorter race held on selected weekends.

1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ Sprint Qualifying — the session that determines the starting grid for the Sprint.

Pole Position — first place on the starting grid.

Formation Lap — the lap completed before the race start.

Out-Lap — the first lap after leaving the pit lane.

In-Lap — the lap on which a driver returns to the pits.

Parc Fermé — a regulated period during which teams are heavily restricted from changing the car.

🏳 RACE CONTROL — FLAGS AND PROCEDURES

Safety Car — a vehicle deployed to slow and control the field during a dangerous situation.

Virtual Safety Car — a system that forces all drivers to reduce their speed without deploying the physical Safety Car.

🏳️ Red Flag — the session or race is suspended because conditions are unsafe.

🏳️ Yellow Flag — drivers must slow down, and overtaking is prohibited.

Double Yellow Flags — drivers must significantly reduce speed and be prepared to stop.

🏳️ Green Flag — the track is clear, and normal racing conditions have resumed.

🏳️ Blue Flag — a slower driver must allow a faster car to pass, usually when being lapped.

🏳 Black and White Flag — an official warning for unacceptable driving.

🏳 Black Flag — a driver must return to the pits and retire from the session.

Track Limits — the defined boundaries of the circuit that drivers must remain within.

Stewards — independent officials who investigate incidents and issue penalties.

#guide
@charlesleclerc

💔🇲🇨 Joris Trouche has announced that he is stepping down from his role as Charles Leclerc’s personal assistant, bringing an emotional chapter of their journey together to a close.

“Some journeys change your life, and I can say this one truly did. When I started working with you, I had no idea how incredible these years would be. We went through highs and lows, victories and disappointments together. I saw the driver, but more than that, I saw a friend, and today I can say that you are one of the most generous people I know. Thank you for everything you have done for me; I will never be able to repay you fully.

Charles, this chapter is coming to an end, but you still have to finish the book with Team CL. I know that one day you will become world champion. I have no doubt. Full speed ahead.

I will always be your most loyal supporter. Forza Ferrari.”

Their photos together are in the comments.
@charlesleclerc

🏎 Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s proposed direction for Formula 1’s next engine era is taking shape:

— Naturally aspirated V8
— 90–100 kW KERS system
— Fully sustainable fuel capped at €10 per litre

The aim is clear: simpler, lighter and more affordable power units, with far less reliance on electrification.

“You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight,” Ben Sulayem said, adding that the new formula would feature “very, very minor electrification.”

The fuel target may be the biggest challenge. Current estimates for Formula 1-grade synthetic fuel exceed €200 per litre, meaning the proposed ceiling would require a dramatic reduction in production and development costs.

🇩🇪🇩🇪Audi remains cautious and continues to favour turbocharging on efficiency grounds, while Mercedes has publicly welcomed the prospect of a V8 return.

@charlesleclerc

🇬🇧 Pirelli completed two days of tyre development testing.

The company continues working on the final version of next season’s dry tyre construction ahead of the specification freeze set by the regulations for 1 September. This time, Mercedes and Williams took part in the test.

Day 1 summary:

Track temperature reached 46°C, while air temperature rose to 31°C.
Russell completed 113 laps and set the fastest time of the day with a 1:30.695.
Sainz, meanwhile, covered 61 laps, with his best time being 1:33.576.

However, due to a technical issue, the Williams car was unable to complete the full planned testing programme.

Day 2 summary:

The maximum temperature was slightly higher than the day before: 49°C on track and 34°C in the air.
In the morning, Antonelli completed a series of short runs for an initial evaluation of the options, before focusing on longer stints in the afternoon to test the most promising solutions identified earlier.
The Italian completed 102 laps, setting a best time of 1:31.511.

Alex Albon’s programme was focused on the C2 and C1 compounds. In the morning, the Williams driver carried out fast qualifying-style runs to assess tyre characteristics, before switching to longer runs after lunch to further study the most interesting options.
Albon set a best time of 1:31.747, completing 97 laps.

@charlesleclerc

🏎 The FIA has opened safety talks with Red Bull and Ferrari over the so-called “Macarena” rear wings after two incidents involving Max Verstappen.

In Austria, a wing issue sent him into the wall in qualifying; at Silverstone, another failure dropped him into the gravel. Verstappen called it “super dangerous,” saying he was “lucky” in both cases.

Red Bull says the failures were different, but Laurent Mekies has promised to “leave no stone unturned” in the investigation and said “all options” remain open.

Ferrari has not reported problems with its version, but if the FIA sees the concept as too risky, it could demand extra safeguards or restrict it altogether.

@charlesleclerc

🇬🇧🤝🇳🇱 PlanetF1’s Thomas Maher reports that multiple paddock sources believe Max Verstappen and McLaren are now in the closing stages of talks over a sensational move from Red Bull. The alleged target is Oscar Piastri’s seat, with Lando Norris understood to be safe as the reigning World Champion.

Officially, McLaren’s door remains closed. Zak Brown said at Silverstone: “I haven’t really thought about that because I’ve got two drivers in the seats,” adding that what he could not offer Verstappen was “a seat in my race car.”

Piastri has also played down the noise: “I’m very happy with where I am… A contract is in place as well.”

Yet PlanetF1 claims discussions around Piastri’s seat have “advanced significantly”, with prominent sources describing a potential initial three-year deal as “imminent.”

The appeal for Verstappen is clear: McLaren’s competitive level, a strong technical structure, and possible reunions with former Red Bull figures Rob Marshall and Gianpiero Lambiase.

❗️ For now, nothing is official — and this information should not be treated as 100% reliable at this stage. But the fact that multiple sources are refusing to rule it out tells its own story: this rumour is no longer background noise.

#rumors
@charlesleclerc

🗓 Missed the race or any other session from last weekend?

🇬🇧 We’ve posted all the videos from the 2026 British Grand Prix weekend in the comments.

#Replay #BritishGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇮🇹 According to Motorsport.com, the Scuderia are set to run at the Madring for a filming day with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The SF-26 is expected to become the first Formula 1 car to take to Madrid’s new circuit, giving Ferrari an early read on the venue while also providing organisers with a serious operational test.

Officially, this is a promotional filming day, restricted by the regulations to a maximum of 200 kilometres. Yet even within those limits, the run could offer Ferrari valuable first data on the circuit’s layout and behaviour ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.

The timing is what makes the story stand out. Only days ago, parts of the Madring still looked like an active construction site, particularly the spectator areas and paddock infrastructure. The track itself, however, appears to be in a different state: 5.416 kilometres, 22 corners and a long banked section are now almost ready for Formula 1 machinery.

For Ferrari, this is more than a media day. It is the first real chance to understand the only completely new circuit on the 2026 calendar.

#SpanishGP26
@charlesleclerc

👍 Formula 1’s V8 return is becoming more realistic.

At the British Grand Prix, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the championship could move away from today’s expensive and complex hybrid turbos after 2031.

The idea is simple: cheaper V8 engines, lighter cars and less hybrid power. According to Ben Sulayem, development costs could drop by around 50%, while car weight could be reduced by almost 100kg.

🔋 Hybrid technology would stay, but its role could fall from today’s roughly 46% to just 10–15%. “We don’t want to go through the current issue where some drivers are lifting off in a straight line,” he said.

The FIA is also considering an independent engine supplier, such as Cosworth, so customer teams are not fully dependent on manufacturers.

❗️ Another major topic is refuelling. If naturally aspirated V8s return, cars may need more fuel — and the FIA is now studying whether in-race refuelling should come back for the first time since 2009.

No decision has been made yet, but the direction is clear: lighter cars, simpler engines, less hybrid power and a louder Formula 1.

#rumors
Boost channel | @charlesleclerc

🇦🇹⚡️🇳🇱 According to De Telegraaf, the relationship between Max Verstappen and Red Bull has reached its most strained point yet after the British Grand Prix.

The frustration is said to go beyond the current performance of the RB22. Verstappen is reportedly unhappy that his feedback is being given less weight inside the team, both on set-up direction and on key strategic calls, including decisions around power-unit components.

His contract situation only adds to the uncertainty. The four-time world champion is not prepared to guarantee that he will remain with Red Bull next season and, according to the report, has no intention of removing the early-exit clause from his deal, even in exchange for a major financial offer. Verstappen wants to keep full control over his future.

There is also concern around Gianpiero Lambiase. With Verstappen’s long-time race engineer set to leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028, De Telegraaf claims his access to certain confidential technical information has been restricted. If true, that could directly affect Verstappen’s working environment at a time when Red Bull can least afford further instability.

For now, Verstappen’s options for next season appear limited. Even if the desire to leave grows stronger, the reality of the driver market may still leave him with only one realistic path: staying at Red Bull.

#rumors
@charlesleclerc

🏎 Driver and team positions on the leaderboard after the 2026 British Grand Prix (Sprint + Race)

👑 Driver Standings:

1 🏎 Andrea Kimi Antonelli
2 🏎 George Russell
3 🏎 Lewis Hamilton
4 🏎 Charles Leclerc 🔼
5 🏎 Lando Norris
6 🏎 Oscar Piastri 🔽
7 🏎 Max Verstappen
8 🏎 Isack Hadjar
9 🏎 Pierre Gasly
10 🏎 Liam Lawson
11 🏎 Arvid Lindblad 🔼
12 🏎 Oliver Bearman 🔽
13 🏎 Franco Colapinto 🔽
14 🏎 Gabriel Bortoleto 🔼
15 🏎 Carlos Sainz 🔽
16 🏎 Alex Albon 🔽
17 🏎 Esteban Ocon 🔽
18 🏎 Fernando Alonso
19 🏎 Nico Hülkenberg
20 🏎 Valtteri Bottas
21 🏎 Sergio Perez
22 🏎 Lance Stroll

🏆 Constructor Cup:

1 🇩🇪 Mercedes
2 🇮🇹 Ferrari
3 🇬🇧 McLaren
4 🇦🇹 Red Bull
5 🇫🇷 Alpine
6 🇮🇹 Racing Bulls
7 🇺🇸 Haas
8 🇺🇸 Williams
9 🇩🇪 Audi
10 🇬🇧 Aston Martin
11 🇺🇸Cadillac

#Leaderboard #BritishGP26
@charlesleclerc