Leclerc: No advice for Hamilton amid Ferrari struggles

Charles Leclerc has dismissed the notion that he should be offering advice to help Lewis Hamilton adapt to Ferrari, stating his own performance is his primary focus and that the seven-time champion’s experience speaks for itself. The Monegasque driver emphasized the natural challenge of joining a new team with different processes, a transition Hamilton has described as his most difficult season in Formula 1.

Why it matters:

Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari was one of the biggest stories in F1, but his first year has been defined by a significant performance gap to his teammate. Leclerc’s comments underscore the individual nature of a driver’s adaptation process and highlight the internal competitive dynamic, even within a team. How Hamilton overcomes this challenge will be crucial for Ferrari’s 2026 championship aspirations.

The details:

• Leclerc secured all seven of Ferrari’s podium finishes in the 2025 season, consistently outpacing the newly arrived Hamilton.
• When asked about assisting Hamilton, Leclerc was clear: his priority is optimizing his own performance and ensuring his driving style suits the car.
• He pointed to Hamilton’s vastly superior career achievements as a reason why advice from him would be presumptuous.
• Hamilton himself has labeled the 2025 campaign his most challenging in F1, struggling with the profound changes in team environment and operational processes at Maranello.

The big picture:

Leclerc’s stance reflects the reality of Formula 1, where teammates are ultimately the first and most direct competitors. His seven-year tenure at Ferrari has granted him an ingrained understanding of the team’s culture and technical processes, a significant advantage over any newcomer, regardless of their pedigree. Hamilton’s struggle to adapt is a stark reminder that success in F1 is as much about integrating with a team’s unique ecosystem as it is about raw driving talent.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the winter development phase and 2026 pre-season testing to see if Hamilton can close the gap. The upcoming season represents a critical reset, with new technical regulations offering a fresh start. Ferrari’s Project 678, the first car developed under the new leadership structure including Chassis Director Loic Serra, will be the true test of whether the team can provide Hamilton with a platform to return to the front and reignite the intra-team battle.