Charles Leclerc (Ferrari/4th): Material like Hamilton, insider tip for the GP

Eight-time GP winner Charles Leclerc has been complaining for weeks that he can't cope with the brakes. One reason why his team-mate Lewis Hamilton is stronger in 2026 than in the previous year - he has been driving with brake discs from Carbon Industrie since Japan.

Charles Leclerc also experimented with them in Spain and was impressed with them in the first practice session. So these discs remained in the car for the second practice session, with which the 2022 world championship runner-up finished fourth fastest, but that doesn't tell the whole story - only Mercedes was faster than Leclerc in the endurance run!

Leclerc on his Friday: "We had some innovations in the car and I think we took a step forward." Ferrari brought a modified front wing to Catalonia, as well as a new underbody, differently shaped sidepods and modifications to the rear.

Leclerc continued: "As far as our competitiveness is concerned, it is perhaps still a little early to make a judgement. We have to make sure we make the most of our opportunities and then we'll see."

The fastest in the endurance run or race simulation was the Englishman George Russell in the Mercedes, with 1:21.2 min, world championship leader Antonelli was two tenths slower on average. Then it was Leclerc, ahead of Verstappen and the two McLaren cars of Norris and Piastri.

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