Ferrari duo not ruling out Spa podium despite disappointing Q3

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both declared themselves hopeful of fighting for podium finishes in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, despite neither driver enjoying a flawless qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps.

Leclerc will start fourth after Lando Norris' 10-place grid penalty, while Hamilton will line up fifth following an impressive recovery from his heavy crash in final practice.

Although Ferrari has acknowledged it is giving away performance on Spa's long straights, both drivers believe there is still plenty to play for when the lights go out on Sunday.

Leclerc sees opportunity despite setback

Leclerc arrived at Spa buoyed by his victory at Silverstone and hoped Ferrari could once again challenge near the front on a circuit that shares several characteristics with the British Grand Prix venue.

His hopes of improving on his final qualifying lap, however, were dashed when yellow flags forced him to back off approaching the Bus Stop chicane.

"It is the way it is, I lifted off and I probably lost a bit of lap time there," said Leclerc, who ultimately finished half a second behind polesitter Kimi Antonelli.

Despite that frustration, the Monegasque believes Ferrari can still put itself in contention if it executes the race perfectly, even with the team's known weakness in straight-line speed.

"It's going to be tricky,” he said. "I think our power unit, we know what we have a slight disadvantage on a track like this and we'll have to try and maximise everything and hopefully a podium is possible."

With strategy, tyre management and changing race circumstances all expected to play a role, Leclerc is determined to make the most of Ferrari's opportunities.

Hamilton buoyed by Ferrari recovery effort

Hamilton's weekend has been far more dramatic.

After crashing heavily at the exit of Turn 13 in FP3, Ferrari's mechanics worked against the clock to rebuild his SF-26 in time for qualifying, allowing the seven-time world champion to secure a place on the third row before Norris' penalty promoted him to fifth on the grid.

Hamilton was quick to praise the effort made behind the scenes by his crew.

"Massively grateful to the team. The guys were stretched to make sure they got the car ready," said Hamilton after qualifying.

However, the Briton admitted the repaired Ferrari never quite felt the same after the accident, but he was still encouraged by what he managed to achieve.

"The car was feeling the best it felt all weekend in FP3, then unfortunately I had to go and damage it.

"It wasn’t the same car when I got back out; unfortunately not identical in terms of balance. But I got the best I could out of what I had."

Rather than dwelling on what might have been, Hamilton is looking ahead with confidence, convinced Ferrari can still emerge as a contender when it matters most.

"Still optimistic for tomorrow. I think there’s a chance, there’s all sorts of chances tomorrow to try and see if we can get on the podium. That’d be awesome,” he concluded.

• Belgian Grand Prix - Qualifying results

Ferrari may not have matched the outright pace of Mercedes or Red Bull over a single lap, but both Leclerc and Hamilton believe Sunday's Grand Prix offers a fresh opportunity.

With Spa's unpredictable weather, strategic possibilities and overtaking opportunities capable of reshaping the order, Ferrari arrives on race day believing a podium remains firmly within reach.

For Leclerc, it is about extracting every last ounce of performance from a car that faces clear limitations. For Hamilton, it is about completing an inspiring recovery after one of the most challenging Saturdays of his season.

Either way, Ferrari heads into Sunday refusing to believe its weekend has already been decided.