At the heart of Scuderia Ferrari, Charles Leclerc continues to write his own chapter in red. Since joining the team in 2019, the Monegasque driver has experienced moments of remarkable growth alongside periods of frustration, many of which were shaped by circumstances beyond his control. Looking back at his years alongside Sebastian Vettel and comparing them with his current rivalry against Lewis Hamilton reveals just how much the context—and the form of his teammates—has influenced his journey.
Learning alongside Sebastian Vettel: a rising star meets a champion in decline
When Charles Leclerc arrived at Ferrari in 2019, he found himself sharing the garage with Sebastian Vettel, a four-time Formula 1 World Champion whose greatest successes were already behind him. That season quickly evolved into a symbolic passing of the torch. Although Sebastian Vettel still produced flashes of brilliance—most notably his memorable victory at the Singapore Grand Prix—there were already clear signs that his peak years had passed.
Driving errors, increasing difficulty extracting the maximum performance from the car and mounting pressure within Ferrari all pointed towards a gradual decline that would eventually prove irreversible.
Charles Leclerc, by contrast, brought fresh energy, fearless aggression and exceptional raw speed that often left Sebastian Vettel trailing. During those first two seasons together, from 2019 to 2020, the Monegasque learned how to handle life inside Ferrari, cope with enormous expectations and establish himself as the team’s natural leader by outperforming a teammate who was no longer at the height of his powers. It seemed to be the beginning of a journey destined to end with a world championship challenge.
The Lewis Hamilton who resembled Sebastian Vettel is gone
The situation Charles Leclerc has faced since Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari in 2025 is very different—and considerably more complex. While the seven-time world champion is no longer the dominant force he was during the Mercedes era, he still possesses extraordinary experience, unmatched racecraft, immense charisma and remarkable tactical intelligence, making him one of the toughest teammates on the grid.
Throughout the 2025 season, Charles Leclerc comfortably won the internal battle, confirming his superiority in a Ferrari that was not capable of consistently fighting at the front. Lewis Hamilton struggled to adapt to his new surroundings, described the campaign himself as “a nightmare,” and appeared to be entering a phase similar to the one Sebastian Vettel experienced during his final years at Ferrari.
However, the script changed dramatically in 2026. Lewis Hamilton rediscovered both confidence and rhythm while once again demonstrating the ability to extract every last fraction of performance from the SF-26. The British driver began beating Charles Leclerc consistently in both qualifying and races, winning several direct battles, building a significant lead in Ferrari’s internal standings and securing his first victory for the Scuderia before his teammate by triumphing in Barcelona.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, has endured a difficult spell. Balance issues, mechanical misfortune and growing frustration have all contributed to a reversal in fortunes. Qualifying accidents, brake failures and a Ferrari that appears to suit Lewis Hamilton’s driving style more effectively have shifted the competitive balance. After dominating the internal battle throughout 2025, Charles Leclerc now finds himself chasing his teammate and, as he has openly admitted, needing to “raise the level.”
The key differences between the two experiences
Alongside Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc was the young talent surpassing a champion whose decline appeared irreversible. The dynamic was straightforward: Sebastian Vettel represented Ferrari’s past, while the Monegasque embodied its future.
The challenge presented by Lewis Hamilton is far more demanding. The British driver is not experiencing a permanent decline. Instead, he has reinvented himself in 2026, successfully adapting both his driving style and his approach to the SF-26 and Formula 1’s new regulations while exploiting the car’s characteristics to maximum effect.
Lewis Hamilton also carries the aura of a living legend, something that inevitably creates an additional psychological challenge. He has long been admired throughout the paddock, including by Charles Leclerc himself, and his resurgence has transformed Ferrari’s internal battle into a genuine contest between two elite drivers, both determined to achieve success wearing red. This is no longer about overtaking a fading veteran—it is about matching a champion who has once again proven capable of reinventing himself.
The 28-year-old has already demonstrated that he possesses the talent to emerge stronger from difficult periods. His exceptional one-lap speed, natural instinct for pole positions and ability to perform under pressure remain among the finest on the Formula 1 grid. Just as his experience alongside Sebastian Vettel ultimately accelerated his development, this challenging phase in 2026 could become another valuable opportunity for growth.
To re-establish himself as Ferrari’s undisputed reference point, however, Charles Leclerc will need answers quickly. Greater consistency, improved adaptation to the SF-26 and the composure Lewis Hamilton is displaying at this stage of the season will all be essential.
Ferrari currently possesses one of the strongest driver pairings in Formula 1. Their internal rivalry is pushing the entire team forward, but for Charles Leclerc the time has come to respond. The talent has never been in doubt. The next step is converting that ability back into consistent results before Lewis Hamilton’s momentum becomes impossible to stop. With much of the 2026 season still to come, Charles Leclerc has every opportunity to prove that he is still the champion Ferrari has been waiting for.
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