“What he still needs to keep working on is…”, a former member of Ferrari has spoken about the characteristics of Charles Leclerc and the ‘coexistence’ with Lewis Hamilton.
Jock Clear, a former Ferrari engineer who knows both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton extremely well—having worked with the latter during Mercedes’ dominant era—shared his thoughts: “I believe he will be the driver who…”. Here are his words about the Monegasque driver and his partnership with the seven-time world champion.
Clear: “He’s the only one who can match Verstappen”
“He’s a driver with a very natural driving style, with an incredible feel for the car. At the moment, he is the only one who, in my opinion, can match Max Verstappen in terms of pace. What he still needs to keep working on is leading the team towards a championship. I think he is learning very well. I believe he will be the driver who takes Ferrari to the next level. And the next level has to be the championship.”
Speaking during Peter Windsor’s podcast, Clear made it clear that the Monegasque driver has all the raw tools required to compete at the very highest level in Formula 1. However, there is still a crucial step missing if he is to consistently fight for and ultimately secure a world title. According to Clear, pure speed alone is not enough at this stage of a driver’s career.
The next phase in Charles Leclerc’s development should be focused on becoming the absolute focal point of the Ferrari project. That means not only delivering on-track performance but also guiding the technical direction of the team, shaping development priorities, and acting as a reference point for engineers and strategists alike. Achieving that status is already a complex task in Formula 1, but it becomes even more challenging when sharing the garage with a driver of Lewis Hamilton’s caliber.
Having a seven-time world champion in the same team inevitably shifts the internal dynamics. Leadership responsibilities, influence over development, and the ability to steer the project are no longer uncontested. This internal competition does not only happen on track but also behind the scenes, in debriefs, simulator sessions, and technical discussions. For Leclerc, this represents both a challenge and a significant opportunity for growth.
Among the many topics discussed, Clear also addressed what he considers to be unfair criticism directed at Lewis Hamilton. Some critics argue that Hamilton is not a team player, portraying him as overly focused on himself. Clear strongly rejected that narrative and offered a different perspective based on his direct experience.
“It hurts to read comments from people who think Lewis is arrogant or that he’s not a team player, as if everything revolves around him. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Great drivers understand what the most important things are to fix at any given moment. He does five laps, comes back into the garage, and tells you exactly what needs to be improved to go faster. And he is rarely wrong.”
Clear’s comments highlight a fundamental aspect of elite drivers: their ability to provide precise, actionable feedback. This is a key element that separates good drivers from truly exceptional ones. Lewis Hamilton’s strength, according to Clear, lies not only in his driving ability but also in his technical awareness and his capacity to communicate effectively with the team.
This aspect becomes particularly relevant in the context of Ferrari’s ambitions. If the Maranello-based team is to return to championship-winning form, it will require not just raw speed from its drivers but also clear direction, technical consistency, and strong internal collaboration. The coexistence between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton could therefore become one of the defining factors of Ferrari’s future success.
For Leclerc, the presence of Hamilton may accelerate his development in areas that go beyond outright pace. Learning how to manage a team, influence long-term development, and extract performance through feedback are all crucial skills for a championship contender. At the same time, Hamilton’s experience and methodical approach could provide Ferrari with an additional layer of stability and expertise.
Clear’s analysis paints a picture of a driver who is already operating at an extremely high level but still has room to grow in terms of leadership and strategic influence. If Charles Leclerc can successfully make that transition, while also navigating the complexities of sharing a team with one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, he may indeed become the figure capable of leading Ferrari back to the top of the sport.
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