Mercedes still favourites in Belgium: Leclerc

Formula One leaders Mercedes are still the favourites for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix despite Ferrari winning ​two of the last three races, Charles Leclerc said ‌on Thursday.

The Monegasque won at Silverstone this month after seven-times world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton triumphed in Barcelona in June.

Mercedes have won the other seven rounds, ​with championship leader Kimi Antonelli taking five successive victories.

"For me, ​Silverstone and Spa are two tracks that will suit ⁠Mercedes a lot better," Leclerc told reporters at Spa-Francorchamps, the ​scene of his first F1 win in 2019.

"At Silverstone, it was ​honestly a surprise for us also to be strong. But we were also lucky on the Sunday because Kimi was probably as strong as what ​we expected.

"So, yeah, I think in Spa Mercedes is still ​the favourite."

Italian Antonelli, 19, started on pole position at Silverstone but lost out ‌at ⁠the start and dropped to third before fighting back.

He was then slowed by a mechanical problem and a penalty for exceeding track limits and finished 16th -- his second blank in three races -- with ​his lead slashed ​to 25 points ⁠over teammate George Russell.

"Our car has been quick at every race, so for sure I’d expect ​us to be up there," Antonelli said of ​his Belgian ⁠prospects. "But Ferrari were also very strong at Silverstone.

"It was a surprise, but to be fair, we always kind of expected them to ⁠be ​up there because, especially when it comes ​to qualifying, they seem to find some extra time.

"So definitely we think they can ​be up there this weekend."