Heading into the 2026 F1 Dutch GP Sprint Race as the only driver in the top 10 on the soft compound tyre, the Ferrari driver’s bold choice paid off as Charles Leclerc claimed P2 in the sprint.
Coming close to pole position after one of his best qualifying laps of the 2026 F1 season, Charles Leclerc was bummed his lap was only good for P3 on the grid. From the start, Leclerc held on to the position for most of the race despite pressure from Championship leader Kimi Antonelli Behind. Staying close to Norris for over half a race distance, Leclerc launched a successful overtake on the Briton on Lap 18 of the 2026 Dutch GP Sprint Race and slotted into P2.
While managing to stay close to race leader George Russell, the 28-year-old did not have enough pace to challenge the Mercedes driver for the Sprint Race victory. In the final laps, light rain threatened to spice things up, but Leclerc crossed the finish line in P2 right before the rain increased.
Soft tyre choice ultimately paid off
Interviewed by David Coulthard following the conclusion of the 2026 F1 Dutch GP Sprint Race, Leclerc was asked about his thoughts when he realised he was nearly the only one on the grid on a soft set of tyres.
“Well, I mean, always when you are the only one doing something, it’s either very right or very wrong,” Leclerc responded, noting that in this instance the decision to head into the Sprint Race was “good,” and a sign that Ferrari took their learnings from the first and only practice session of the Dutch GP weekend, even if he initially wasn’t sure the tyre choice would pay off.
“I think it was a good choice at the end so that’s good, it means we did well our homework in FP1 but surely when I was on the grid you just hope to have done the right choice.”
Leclerc did not anticipate being able to overtake Norris in 2026 F1 Dutch GP Sprint Race
In an otherwise calm 2026 F1 Dutch GP Sprint Race, the 9-time race winners overtaking McLaren’s Lando Norris on Lap 18 could be considered a highlight. Recalling the overtake that earned him P2, Leclerc notes that he was aware Norris lacked power on the straight, but that he had to “maximise” to successfully complete the pass. In the end, it was close, but it “worked out” for the Monegasque.
“I mean I knew Lando didn’t have much deployment on the main straight so I knew I had to maximise that, but then we still arrived at the braking point more or less at the same level, but it worked out, which was good.“
Despite showing good pace on the soft compound and keeping it close to the reigning Champion for the majority of the 2026 F1 Dutch GP Sprint Race, Leclerc did not anticipate being able to make a move, especially after a less than ideal start.
“I did not expect to gain positions at the end of the race with these soft tyres. If anything, it was at the start, but I didn’t have a great start.”
After a first half of the season that saw the Ferrari driver, at times, struggle with the feeling for the SF-26, heading into the 2026 F1 Dutch GP weekend feeling at ease with the car beneath him is a “good” way to ring in the “second half” of this season, according to Leclerc.
“I mean, the car is feeling good since FP1, which is a good thing to start the second half of the season like that.”
