Charles Leclerc on Hamilton's First Ferrari Season: No Advice to Give

Charles Leclerc says he had little capacity to advise Lewis Hamilton during the seven-time champion's challenging first season with Ferrari, citing his own intense focus on performance and Hamilton's vast experience. The Monegasque driver, now in his eighth year with the Scuderia, acknowledged the lengthy adaptation process required when joining a new team, suggesting Hamilton is still acclimating to Ferrari's distinct internal processes and working methods after 11 years at Mercedes.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's high-profile move to Ferrari created immense expectations, making his podium-less 2025 season a focal point of scrutiny. How a driver of his caliber integrates into a new team culture and technical structure is a critical factor for future success, especially as Ferrari aims to close the performance gap to the front. Leclerc's perspective highlights the internal dynamics and the singular focus required from each driver within a top team.

The details:

• Leclerc emphasized his primary role is to maximize his own performance, leaving little bandwidth to actively guide Hamilton's integration. "There's already so many things I'm focused on for myself, and the team," he stated.
• He deferred to Hamilton's superior achievements, noting, "Lewis has achieved a lot more than I ever did. I don't really have any advice to give him."
• Leclerc pointed out the fundamental differences Hamilton faced, from engineering processes to overall team vision, which require significant time to master.
• On the SF-25 car's performance, Leclerc believed the team maximized its potential but was fundamentally hampered by a lack of outright pace compared to Red Bull and McLaren, describing Ferrari as "consistently off the pace."

The big picture:

Hamilton's first Ferrari season, marked by consistency in the upper midfield but a lack of podiums, underscores the complexity of a driver switch at the highest level. It's not merely about speed but adapting to an entirely new ecosystem. While external narratives focused on potential tensions, Ferrari has consistently maintained Hamilton's relationship with the team is strong. The real challenge, as identified by Leclerc, remains car performance—a hurdle that must be cleared for either driver to fight for victories consistently.

What's next:

The focus for Ferrari shifts entirely to the 2026 season and its new technical regulations. Team principal Fred Vasseur has indicated the team must be "clever" with its development path. For Hamilton, a second season in red offers the opportunity for greater comfort and influence within the team, potentially unlocking more performance if the car proves competitive.