Charles Leclerc downplays points gap to Lewis Hamilton: “It doesn’t matter if we’re only fighting for fourth”. Charles Leclerc says the points gap to Lewis Hamilton is not a priority.

Charles Leclerc has made it clear that he is not focused on the points gap to teammate Lewis Hamilton as long as Scuderia Ferrari remains out of contention for victories in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Leclerc not focused on the gap to Hamilton
When Ferrari brought together Charles Leclerc and seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 Formula 1 season, many expected a tense rivalry between the two highly competitive drivers. However, the first half of the championship has told a different story. There has been no visible friction within the team, and both drivers have shown mutual respect. Any tension that has emerged has mostly come from strategic decisions on the pit wall rather than from direct clashes on track.

This relatively calm dynamic can largely be attributed to the disappointing performance of the SF-25 car, which has not lived up to the high expectations set at the beginning of the year. Both drivers have struggled to consistently challenge for podiums and victories, and this shared frustration seems to have helped preserve harmony within the team. Speaking during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, Charles Leclerc made it clear that the internal points gap—he currently leads Hamilton by 16 points in the standings—is of little importance to him under the current circumstances.

Charles Leclerc’s comments
“It’s something that really comes second right now,” said the Monegasque driver, referring to his points advantage over Hamilton. “Of course, you always keep an eye on it, but if you’re only fighting for fourth place, it doesn’t matter that much. Naturally, once we are fighting for wins again, these things will become more relevant, but at the moment, they’re not something I think about.”

Charles Leclerc also emphasized that his focus is on improving himself and learning from his experienced teammate. “I try to learn as much as I can from Lewis and concentrate on doing the best job possible. That obviously includes trying to beat Lewis, but not only that. The main goal for both myself and the team is to bring Ferrari back to the top. Right now, Lewis isn’t my target, because we’re not fighting for truly meaningful positions,” he explained.

On Hamilton’s internal Ferrari report
When asked about the internal document Lewis Hamilton reportedly compiled to outline the weaknesses of the Ferrari SF-25, Charles Leclerc dismissed any concerns regarding internal competition or leadership issues. “We’re both committed to improving the team. He prepares his feedback, I prepare mine, and then we hold major technical meetings where we bring everything together. We are completely aligned with the team, and everyone is pushing in the same direction. There’s no stress in that regard,” Leclerc stated.

He also praised the value of having a driver with Hamilton’s unique background and experience. “I think it’s very interesting to have someone like Lewis, who comes from a very different racing culture and naturally highlights different aspects. It’s not so different from working with other teammates I’ve had in the past. We’re all here to help the team improve, and all of us are preparing these kinds of documents to identify key areas of development. His viewpoint is unique—Lewis has had an incredible career,” Charles Leclerc concluded.