Lewis Hamilton has continued to show a positive upward trend at Ferrari, securing third place in qualifying for the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix. While he still has room to improve, the progress since the start of the season is evident. The seven-time world champion has now achieved a top-three qualifying position for a full-length race with Ferrari for the first time since joining the team over the winter, building on his two strong fourth-place finishes in Austin earlier this year.
Although Charles Leclerc remains the lead driver at Maranello, the gap between him and Lewis Hamilton has narrowed. The closer performance could signal a more competitive intra-team battle in 2026, potentially intensifying the dynamic within Ferrari’s garage.
Hamilton’s adaptation and evolving presence at Ferrari
Hamilton’s attitude in the media has shifted noticeably. Previously describing himself as “useless” before the summer break, he has since adopted a more positive and constructive approach, while openly acknowledging the areas where both he and the team still need to improve. Leclerc has recognized the transformation, noting that Hamilton now feels much more comfortable with the car’s complex systems after 12 years at Mercedes, having become fully familiar with Ferrari’s operations and procedures.
Speaking to ESPN ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc emphasized the benefits of Hamilton’s presence in the team. He reflected on his previous four seasons alongside Carlos Sainz, who had pushed him consistently, and suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s arrival has introduced a new challenge. The Monegasque driver acknowledged that, despite being the bigger name in the garage, Lewis Hamilton has absorbed much of the spotlight this season, which has required him to stay focused on his own performance while learning from his teammate’s experience.
Charles Leclerc highlighted that the partnership has been constructive and motivating. He noted that Lewis Hamilton’s growing familiarity with Ferrari’s car has allowed him to extract more performance and provide valuable feedback to the team, ultimately helping both drivers improve. According to Charles Leclerc, this period has been both an interesting and challenging experience, reinforcing his own motivation to excel alongside one of Formula 1’s most successful competitors.
Team dynamics and insights from the paddock
Commentators and former drivers have weighed in on the evolving Ferrari driver dynamic. Martin Brundle observed that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were “too close for comfort” during their on-track battles at the US Grand Prix, which ended evenly between the two drivers. Given Hamilton’s historical position as the trailing driver, overtakes have rarely occurred without some form of team management, suggesting that Ferrari’s sporting director Fred Vasseur has so far managed the situation effectively. However, closer performance in future races could make balancing the two drivers’ ambitions more complex.
Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve noted that Lewis Hamilton appears calmer than the Monegasque in the Ferrari cockpit. Villeneuve suggested that Charles Leclerc, at 28 years old, is currently more expressive about his frustrations with the 2025 car, whereas Hamilton is focused on next year’s development. The seven-time world champion is concentrating on influencing the design and setup of the 2026 car, ensuring that his insights and experience are fully integrated into the team’s future strategy.
Looking ahead for Ferrari’s 2025 and 2026 season
The Leclerc-Hamilton partnership has so far yielded promising results, with the drivers complementing each other in terms of feedback and on-track performance. Lewis Hamilton’s improved adaptation to the Ferrari SF-25 has allowed him to challenge more consistently, while Charles Leclerc has maintained his role as the team’s reference point. As the season progresses, the evolving gap between the two drivers and their approach to car development could play a pivotal role in Ferrari’s championship campaign, setting the stage for a potentially more intense intra-team battle in 2026.
Leave a Reply