The balance of power inside Ferrari appears to be shifting, and some former Formula 1 figures believe Charles Leclerc may be facing one of the most challenging periods of his career at Maranello just as Lewis Hamilton is enjoying a remarkable resurgence.
Only a few months ago, many expected Charles Leclerc to remain the unquestioned reference point within Ferrari. After all, the Monegasque driver had spent years helping shape the team’s development, establishing himself as the face of Ferrari’s long-term project and securing a contract extension that could keep him with the Scuderia well into the next decade.
However, the landscape has changed dramatically since Lewis Hamilton’s arrival. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has gradually integrated himself into the organization, influenced key technical decisions, and recently delivered Ferrari’s first Grand Prix victory since the closing stages of the 2024 season. As a result, momentum inside the team appears to be increasingly moving in his direction.
The statistics highlight the transformation. Lewis Hamilton has contributed more than 60 percent of Ferrari’s points so far this season, a figure remarkably similar to the percentage Charles Leclerc delivered during the early stages of their partnership. While Charles Leclerc remains one of the fastest drivers on the Formula 1 grid, recent events have fueled debate about whether Ferrari is slowly evolving from being his team into one increasingly centered around Lewis Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc’s difficult period comes at the worst possible time
The contrast between the two Ferrari drivers has become increasingly noticeable over recent race weekends.
Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed a significant improvement in form, culminating in a breakthrough victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The British driver has looked more comfortable with the SF-26, more confident in race conditions, and increasingly influential within Ferrari’s technical structure.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc has endured a frustrating sequence of events. Mistakes, technical issues, and missed opportunities have combined to create one of the most difficult stretches of his Ferrari career.
Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill recently discussed the situation and suggested that Charles Leclerc appears to be struggling with a changing dynamic inside the team. Speaking on the Stay on Track podcast, Damon Hill noted that Charles Leclerc had largely disappeared from the spotlight over the last few race weekends and pointed to Monaco as a particularly disappointing example, where the Monegasque driver was overshadowed by Lewis Hamilton and suffered a costly mistake.
Damon Hill also questioned whether the Monegasque’s long-term contract extension may have arrived at an unfortunate moment. In his view, the Ferrari driver appears increasingly frustrated, and the emergence of Lewis Hamilton as a central figure within the team may be contributing to that sentiment.
According to Damon Hill’s analysis, Formula 1 teams rarely maintain a perfectly balanced internal structure. He suggested that when a new star driver arrives and quickly earns the confidence of engineers, mechanics, and senior management, it can be emotionally challenging for the established driver who previously occupied that position.
In essence, Damon Hill believes Charles Leclerc may be experiencing the difficult reality of seeing the Briton become one of the dominant influences within Ferrari’s sporting and technical environment.
Why Lewis Hamilton’s influence continues to grow
One of the most important factors behind Lewis Hamilton’s turnaround has been Ferrari’s willingness to adapt certain technical aspects of the car to suit his preferences.
A widely discussed example concerns the braking system. Earlier in the season, Lewis Hamilton switched from Brembo brake discs to a Carbon Industrie configuration, a change that many observers believe played a crucial role in unlocking his recent performances.
The modification allowed Lewis Hamilton to return to a braking style that closely matches the approach he has relied upon throughout much of his Formula 1 career. The increased confidence under braking has helped him maximize corner entry speed and extract greater performance from the SF-26.
Charles Leclerc later moved toward a similar solution after his well-publicized frustrations with the braking characteristics of the car. The decision sparked discussion throughout the paddock, with some commentators suggesting it highlighted the growing influence of the seven-time world champion’s feedback within Ferrari’s engineering department.
Damon Hill argued that Lewis Hamilton’s recent success has been driven by his willingness to trust his instincts and return to the techniques that made him one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history. By contrast, Damon Hill suggested that Charles Leclerc has often appeared more willing to follow the direction provided by the team, even when it may not fully align with his personal preferences.
That difference, according to Damon Hill, could explain why Lewis Hamilton’s experience is currently delivering more immediate benefits for Ferrari.
Has Ferrari become Lewis Hamilton’s team?
Another former Formula 1 driver, Johnny Herbert, admitted that he has been surprised by how dramatically the internal dynamic at Ferrari has evolved during the season.
At the beginning of the year, many observers expected Charles Leclerc to maintain control of the team’s direction while Lewis Hamilton adapted to a completely new environment. Early results seemed to support that theory, as Lewis Hamilton initially faced the challenge of learning Ferrari’s systems, procedures, and operational culture.
However, recent developments have completely changed the narrative.
Johnny Herbert believes Lewis Hamilton now combines confidence, experience, technical understanding, and momentum in a way that has transformed Ferrari’s internal hierarchy. The former Formula 1 driver suggested that while Ferrari may once have been centered around Charles Leclerc, the current situation increasingly resembles a team operating around Lewis Hamilton’s strengths.
Such assessments may appear harsh given the circumstances surrounding Charles Leclerc’s recent results. The Monegasque driver retired from the Spanish Grand Prix due to a power steering failure while running competitively inside the points, denying him the opportunity to strengthen his championship position.
Furthermore, the head-to-head battle between the Ferrari teammates remains remarkably close. When considering only competitive sessions in which both drivers have been classified, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are currently tied 9-9, demonstrating just how evenly matched they remain in terms of outright pace.
Nevertheless, Formula 1 is often influenced by momentum as much as raw speed. Right now, the Briton appears to possess that momentum. His confidence is growing, Ferrari’s latest upgrades seem to suit his driving style, and his influence within the team continues to expand with every strong result.
For Charles Leclerc, the challenge is not simply matching Lewis Hamilton on track. It is also about reasserting himself within a team he helped build into a championship contender.
The season is still far from over, and there is ample time for the balance to shift once again. Yet as Ferrari heads into the next phase of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, one thing has become increasingly clear: Lewis Hamilton’s impact extends far beyond lap times and race results.
Whether that ultimately strengthens Ferrari’s title ambitions or creates a new internal rivalry remains one of the most fascinating storylines of the season.
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