Leclerc explains why he hasn't offered advice to Hamilton at Ferrari
Charles Leclerc explains he hasn't advised Lewis Hamilton during the seven-time champion's difficult first Ferrari season, citing his own performance focus and respect for Hamilton's experience. Leclerc finished 86 points ahead of his winless teammate in 2025.
Charles Leclerc has revealed why he has not offered advice to teammate Lewis Hamilton during the seven-time champion's challenging first season at Ferrari. Leclerc cites his own intense focus on maximizing his performance and a belief that Hamilton's vast experience makes him unqualified to give guidance.
Why it matters:
The dynamic between Ferrari's established star and its new superstar signing is crucial to the team's championship aspirations. Hamilton's difficult adaptation after moving from Mercedes has raised questions about internal support and team chemistry, factors that can make or break a title challenge in Formula 1's ultra-competitive environment.
The details:
- Leclerc emphasized that his primary responsibility is to "maximise whatever I can do in my control," leaving little bandwidth to focus on his teammate's adaptation process.
- The Monegasque driver expressed humility regarding Hamilton's achievements, stating: "Lewis has achieved a lot more than I ever did. So, I don't really have any advice to give him."
- He acknowledged the natural difficulty of joining a new team, noting that even after a year, processes, team vision, and working methods feel "completely different" and require significant time to adjust to.
- Leclerc reflected on his own lengthy tenure, saying, "I don't even remember what it's like to be joining a new team. It's been eight years that I'm in Ferrari, so I know how it works, and obviously everything feels very natural."
By the numbers:
The 2025 season highlighted the performance gap between the teammates. Leclerc secured seven podium finishes and ended the championship 86 points ahead of Hamilton, who failed to reach the podium throughout the entire campaign—a stark contrast to Ferrari's pre-season expectations of challenging for both titles.
What's next:
Leclerc expressed personal satisfaction with his own strong season but acknowledged overall team performance was below expectations, especially after ending 2024 strongly. With the team reportedly focusing most development resources on the 2026 regulations, immediate improvement may be challenging. However, Leclerc remains hopeful: "I hope that next year will be better." The pressure now mounts on Ferrari to deliver a car capable of supporting both its elite drivers in 2026.