Leclerc says Ferrari must keep making progress as Dutch GP weekend begins
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari must focus on perfect execution in the second half of the F1 season, starting with a Sprint weekend at Zandvoort.
- 2026
What Happened
Charles Leclerc is ready to get back on track after the summer break for an intense Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort, which is a Sprint event with the possibility of rain. The Scuderia Ferrari HP driver is confident about the second half of the season and the work the team is doing on the SF-26. This year's race is also the last Dutch Grand Prix for the foreseeable future.
“Historically, this hasn’t been a particularly strong track for us, but these cars are very different and that can reshuffle the pecking order a little. Zandvoort is also quite a technical track and we have generally performed well on this type of circuit this year. I’m confident, but obviously we have to wait until we get out on track to see where we stand.”
“This year it’s more important than ever. These cars are very complex to optimise and even a small mistake can have significant consequences. Looking back at the first half of the season, you can see that all the teams have left quite a lot of points on the table. On our side, we know we need to aim for perfection and that is definitely one of the areas we will be focusing on most in the second hal”
“We have taken a very aggressive approach compared to the past, both in terms of innovation and our upgrade programme. Production has done an incredible job in the first half of the season, working flat out to allow us to have new parts as early as possible. At such an early stage in the development of these cars, every upgrade can make a big difference and we need to keep pushing like this.”
“It’s a track I really enjoy, especially in qualifying. As drivers, we love tracks with character and this one is truly unique, not least because of its banked corners. Over a single lap, when you push the car to the limit, it’s a fantastic challenge and I will definitely miss it.”
Previously from Ferrari N.V.
Ferrari returns from the summer break second in the constructors' championship, with Lewis Hamilton second and Charles Leclerc fourth in the drivers' standings. The Dutch Grand Prix is the 12th round of the Formula 1 season.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ferrari N.V.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Leclerc's comments highlight Ferrari's priorities for the rest of the season: aggressive development of the SF-26 and flawless execution on race weekends. The team is confident Zandvoort, a technical track with banked corners, could suit its car, and it is the last Dutch Grand Prix for the foreseeable future. Even small mistakes can cost points, and Leclerc notes all teams left many points on the table in the first half.
Terms in This Story
- Sprint event
- A shorter race format in Formula 1 held on Saturday, with a separate qualifying session, that awards championship points but less than the main grand prix.
- SF-26
- The designation of Ferrari's Formula 1 car for the 2026 season.
- Banked corners
- Curved sections of a race track that are angled inward, allowing cars to maintain higher speed through the turn.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.