David Coulthard has questioned Charles Leclerc’s approach to Formula 1 race weekends, suggesting the Ferrari driver may be allowing too much of his family life into the paddock at a stage of his career when the former Grand Prix winner believes complete competitive focus should be the priority.
Coulthard’s comments centre on the regular presence of Leclerc’s wife, Alexandra Saint Mleux, and his dog Leo at races. The former Formula 1 driver believes the overall atmosphere surrounding Leclerc has become too relaxed for what he regards as an extremely serious and dangerous sporting environment.
The criticism comes during a season in which Leclerc has won once and recorded four podium finishes, but has also made notable errors in Barcelona, Monaco and Italy. He currently sits fifth in the championship, 24 points behind Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
David Coulthard questions Charles Leclerc’s F1 weekend focus
Speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, David Coulthard acknowledged Leclerc’s outstanding natural speed and described him as someone who fits the image of a modern Formula 1 star. However, he argued that the combination of family life, an expected first child and a dog regularly appearing in the paddock had become too much for his preference.
Leclerc married Alexandra Saint Mleux in February, and the couple are now expecting their first child. Coulthard suggested that, from his perspective, a Grand Prix should not resemble a relaxed weekend away and emphasised the seriousness and inherent danger of Formula 1. At the same time, he acknowledged that his view may partly reflect the attitudes of an older generation of drivers.
The presence of partners and relatives in the paddock is not unusual in modern Formula 1. George Russell, Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz are among the drivers frequently accompanied by their partners. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli is commonly joined by his father, while Max Verstappen is also often seen with his father at races. Pierre Gasly, a close friend of Leclerc, has occasionally brought his dog to the paddock as well.
Coulthard’s criticism is therefore not based on Leclerc doing something unique among current drivers. Instead, his argument is focused specifically on how he believes the Ferrari driver should approach Grand Prix weekends and the level of concentration demanded by Formula 1 competition.
Coulthard believes Leclerc should have an advantage over Lewis Hamilton
The wider concern for Coulthard is Leclerc’s performance relative to Hamilton. At 28, he considers the Monegasque driver to be around his theoretical sporting prime, whereas the seven-time world champion is now 41.
Despite that age difference and Leclerc’s greater familiarity with Ferrari, their direct 2026 comparison remains extremely close. The qualifying head-to-head stands at 7-7, while the race comparison is 5-5 when both drivers finish. That represents a significant change from the previous season, when Leclerc had a clear advantage in the head-to-head battle.
The closeness of their performance can also be followed through the Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, while the latest championship picture is available in the 2026 Formula 1 driver standings.
For Coulthard, the comparison strengthens his view that Leclerc should be extracting more from this stage of his career. His criticism is not directed at the Ferrari driver’s underlying speed, which he rates extremely highly, but at whether every element surrounding a Grand Prix weekend is geared towards maximising performance.
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari record remains significant
Leclerc’s longer-term Ferrari record nevertheless underlines why expectations remain so high. He currently has 185 Grand Prix starts and is set to reach the 200-start milestone next year if his programme continues as expected.
Across his Formula 1 career, Leclerc has taken nine victories. By comparison, the three Ferrari team-mates referenced alongside him — Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz and Hamilton — have accumulated six wins between them while sharing the team with him.
That record helps explain the tension between Coulthard’s praise and criticism. He regards Leclerc as exceptionally fast and fully equipped with the qualities associated with an elite Formula 1 driver, yet believes those strengths should be producing a clearer advantage over Hamilton at this point in their respective careers.
With more races still to come on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, the battle between Ferrari’s two drivers will continue to provide a direct measure of whether Leclerc can re-establish the advantage he held previously or whether Hamilton can maintain his current championship lead over his team-mate.
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