Charles Leclerc has offered an honest explanation for why the performance gap between himself and Lewis Hamilton has become much smaller this season, after the Monegasque driver comfortably outscored his Ferrari teammate last year.
In the previous campaign, the 28-year-old finished 86 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton, but the situation has looked far more balanced after the opening five races of the current Formula 1 season. Rather than presenting that as a surprise, Charles Leclerc suggested that he always expected the fight inside Ferrari to become much closer.
The Monegasque driver made it clear that Lewis Hamilton’s quality was never in question. Charles Leclerc pointed out that Lewis Hamilton is an exceptionally gifted driver and has achieved far more in Formula 1 than he has, underlining the respect that exists between the two Ferrari teammates.
According to the Monegasque, Lewis Hamilton’s previous season was affected by several difficult moments, including a number of unlucky situations that prevented him from showing his full potential. This year, however, the circumstances appear to be different, with the seven-time world champion adapting quickly to Ferrari’s current car and feeling comfortable with it from the beginning of the campaign.
For Charles Leclerc, the start of the season has required slightly more work. He admitted that there were specific weekends, including China and Montreal, where he had to search harder to extract the maximum from the car. That contrast has helped reduce the gap between the two drivers and has made Ferrari’s internal battle more competitive.
However, the Moneagsque sees that as a positive sign rather than a problem. He explained that having Lewis Hamilton performing at a high level pushes both sides of the garage to find more performance. In a team like Ferrari, where every detail is constantly analysed, a close fight between two elite drivers can be valuable if it drives development and raises the overall standard.
The relationship between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton has also evolved since they first became teammates. Charles Leclerc noted that Lewis Hamilton now understands Ferrari’s internal structure much better and knows exactly who to approach for specific information. At a team of Ferrari’s size, where around 1,500 people are involved across different departments, those details can make a meaningful difference.
That improved familiarity has made daily work inside the team smoother. The 28-year-old said that he and Lewis Hamilton have always had a very good relationship, but the partnership now functions more naturally because Lewis Hamilton has a clearer understanding of the people, processes and communication channels within Ferrari.
For Ferrari, this dynamic could become increasingly important as the season develops. With Mercedes setting the early benchmark and Ferrari still searching for consistent performance, the collaboration between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be crucial. Both drivers bring different strengths, and a stronger working relationship could help the team identify weaknesses more quickly and unlock more potential from the car.
Although the points gap between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton is now much smaller than it was last year, the Monegasque driver appears to view the situation as a healthy internal challenge. If Ferrari can turn that competitive tension into progress, the close fight between its two star drivers may become one of the team’s most useful weapons in the battle to catch Mercedes.
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