Charles Leclerc’s return to the top step of the Formula 1 podium at Silverstone was not only the result of Ferrari’s technical progress—it also marked a major psychological turning point. According to his longtime mental coach, Riccardo Ceccarelli, the Monegasque rediscovered his best form only after abandoning an approach that had seen him increasingly mirror Lewis Hamilton’s setup choices.
The victory at the British Grand Prix ended a frustrating run that stretched back 37 races to the 2024 United States Grand Prix. During that period Ferrari managed just two victories, while Lewis Hamilton steadily gained momentum within the Scuderia, outscoring Charles Leclerc by a commanding margin over the previous five race weekends and raising questions about the balance of power inside the Maranello team.
Charles Leclerc realised copying Lewis Hamilton was not the answer
Throughout the difficult phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Charles Leclerc openly acknowledged that he had begun studying Lewis Hamilton’s approach in an attempt to unlock more performance from the Ferrari SF-26. Among the changes was the decision to adopt Carbon Industrie brake discs, following the same direction the Briton had already taken earlier in the campaign after moving away from Brembo components.
However, Riccardo Ceccarelli believes that strategy was taking Charles Leclerc away from the qualities that have always made him one of Formula 1’s fastest drivers.
Speaking to the Italian media, the renowned performance coach explained that trying to replicate a teammate’s technical direction can limit a driver’s potential. He argued that such an approach might be acceptable for someone satisfied with supporting another driver, but not for someone aiming to lead Ferrari and fight consistently for victories.
According to Ceccarelli, the 28-year-old recognised the situation at exactly the right moment. While observing a teammate’s work can provide useful ideas and broaden a driver’s understanding, he suggested that it should never replace trusting one’s own instincts. Returning to a setup philosophy better suited to Charles Leclerc’s natural driving style ultimately paved the way for his Silverstone success.
Ferrari’s internal battle remains wide open
Although Charles Leclerc’s victory dramatically changed the narrative surrounding the Italian side’s season, Lewis Hamilton still holds the advantage in the championship standings thanks to his greater consistency over the opening part of the campaign. Even so, Silverstone has shifted the conversation away from suggestions that Ferrari could begin favouring one driver over the other.
Riccardo Ceccarelli believes both Ferrari drivers possess the qualities required to lead the team and expects them to continue competing on equal terms throughout the remainder of the season. In his view, there is little to separate Lewis Hamilton and his Maranello teammate in outright ability, with future results likely to be decided by fine margins, execution and small technical details rather than raw speed alone.
He also suggested that while it is perfectly natural for teammates to observe each other’s work from across the garage, there is a significant difference between learning from another driver and simply reproducing every setup change. In his opinion, blindly copying another driver’s configuration effectively means giving up part of one’s own identity behind the wheel—something he insisted does not reflect Charles Leclerc’s character or mentality.
Lewis Hamilton’s influence adds another layer to Ferrari rivalry
The story became even more intriguing after the British Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton indicated that Charles Leclerc had begun moving toward a similar setup direction following the Sprint weekend. Those remarks contrasted with Charles Leclerc’s own explanation of how he approached the race, highlighting that the two Maranello drivers have different interpretations of the path that led to the team’s breakthrough performance.
With Ferrari’s recent upgrades transforming the competitiveness of the SF-26, the internal battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc now promises to become one of the defining storylines of the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Rather than establishing a clear number one driver, Silverstone may instead have confirmed that Ferrari possesses two race winners capable of pushing each other to an even higher level.
Leave a Reply