Ferrari inner-team drama: Charles Leclerc survives brush with Lewis Hamilton to secure Suzuka podium. Charles Leclerc reveals his scare during the Suzuka GP when he touched teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The Suzuka Grand Prix gave Ferrari fans plenty of excitement, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc once again battling fiercely on track. While in Shanghai it was Hamilton who emerged ahead after several position swaps, in Japan it was Leclerc’s turn to shine, pulling off a daring move around the outside of Turn 1 to secure third place. The two SF-26 cars came perilously close, but both managed to finish the race, with Charles Leclerc taking the podium and Hamilton ultimately finishing sixth, struggling with a power issue that left him unable to fend off George Russell and Lando Norris.

The scare for Charles Leclerc after touching Hamilton

After stepping out of his car and entering the post-race area, Charles Leclerc admitted that he had a tense moment during the battle with Lewis Hamilton. Watching the race highlights, the Monegasque driver confessed: “We touched! I thought I had a puncture.” The incident occurred while both drivers were contesting third place, and Charles Leclerc’s brave outside move at Turn 1 on lap 42 gave him just enough space to stay ahead and later withstand an aggressive challenge from George Russell, ultimately securing his second podium of the season.

Ferrari battles in China and Japan

This Suzuka duel mirrored the earlier battle in Shanghai, where Hamilton had managed to edge out Leclerc after a ten-lap scrap, earning his first podium since joining Ferrari. In both races, the team maintained a hands-off approach with no team orders, even as Leclerc had radioed the team to note he was losing time behind his teammate. The mutual respect between the Ferrari drivers and the freedom to race showcased their professionalism, while also delivering thrilling on-track action for fans.

Leclerc’s resilience pays off

Despite the near-miss with the Briton and the challenge from other top drivers, Charles Leclerc remained composed under pressure. The Suzuka podium marked another milestone in his 2026 campaign, highlighting not only his driving skill but also his ability to manage tense wheel-to-wheel moments without compromising the car or team strategy.