Charles Leclerc has underlined that he too has his own points of development for Ferrari, responding to Lewis Hamilton’s recent statements about the documents he sent to the team. By clarifying his position, the Monegasque driver sought to minimize concerns that he might be sidelined in the progression of the car’s performance.
Lewis Hamilton’s situation at Ferrari and his statements
After fourteen races behind the wheel of the Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton’s record is far from impressive. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has not yet managed to reach the podium dressed in red, while in the same period Charles Leclerc has secured that result on five occasions. The contrast between their results has inevitably fueled discussions about their respective roles in Ferrari’s current project.
In recent weeks, Hamilton explained that he had been working on several documents that he then delivered to Maranello, in order to highlight critical points and suggest areas for improvement in the development of the car. “I have sent documents, I have done it throughout the year,” Lewis Hamilton stated.
He added: “After the first races I prepared a complete document for the team. Then, during the break between the British Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix, I sent another two documents, and so the team wanted to address those points.” Such an initiative is not unusual in Formula 1. Drivers often provide detailed feedback in written form, and Hamilton is certainly not the first and will not be the last to do so.
Charles Leclerc responds: “He prepares his points, I prepare my points”
When asked about the matter, Charles Leclerc did not shy away from answering. He clarified that the team is united in its direction and that there is no tension between the two drivers. “At the end of the day we are both pushing to try to make Ferrari better,” Charles Leclerc said. “He prepares his points, I prepare my points and then we have big meetings where we are both present and we discuss what we want to improve. So obviously we are aligned together with the team, and everyone is pushing in the same direction, so there is no stress.”
Charles Leclerc also pointed out that Hamilton’s vast experience, especially from more than a decade with Mercedes, can be a major advantage for Ferrari in the long term. “I think it is always interesting to have a person like Lewis, who comes from a very different culture, from a very different team, after so many years with Mercedes, and who therefore highlights some aspects,” said the Ferrari driver.
He then continued: “I do not think it is very different from the teammates I have had in my career: we are all here to improve the team and we all prepare this kind of documents to highlight the critical points. So there is nothing unusual. Of course, it is a unique point of view and Lewis has had an incredible career, so these are things we pay close attention to.”
For Charles Leclerc, this is simply part of the normal process of developing a car in Formula 1. “But it is not something that starts only now. It begins already from the very first race, when there are the first differences in feeling and the aspects you have to get used to, or others that you want to change. It is part of the process. Maybe it is just the first time that he says it publicly. That is why it causes such a reaction, but there is nothing particular happening right now.”
Leave a Reply