Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton: F1 Head-to-Head Stats
Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton in the 2026 Formula 1 season
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are being compared directly as Ferrari teammates throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season. The live statistics dashboard above tracks how the two drivers perform against each other across championship points, Grand Prix results, qualifying, race pace, fastest laps, Sprint races and several deeper performance metrics.
This page focuses specifically on the Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton head-to-head at Ferrari in 2026. Rather than comparing their entire Formula 1 careers, the objective is to analyse their performance in the same team and during the same race weekends, giving the statistics much greater context.
The dashboard is updated as new race and qualifying data is imported, so the figures above represent the latest available 2026 comparison. For individual Grand Prix analysis, you can also use the F1 Race Pace & Lap Time Comparison tool to compare Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lap by lap.
Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton head-to-head
The head-to-head section brings together several different ways of comparing the Ferrari drivers. Race classification shows which driver finished ahead in the official Grand Prix result, while qualifying compares their final starting-position performance across each weekend.
Race Pace and Fastest Lap deliberately remain separate statistics. A driver may produce the stronger sustained pace across a Grand Prix but still be beaten by their teammate’s quickest individual lap. Looking at both helps distinguish consistent race performance from peak one-lap speed.
Sprint results are also tracked separately. This avoids mixing shorter Sprint races with full Grands Prix and makes it easier to see how Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton compare across the different Formula 1 weekend formats.
Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton qualifying comparison
Qualifying is one of the clearest head-to-head measurements between teammates because both drivers have access to the same basic car package and compete on the same circuit under broadly similar conditions.
The qualifying comparison tracks which Ferrari driver finishes ahead, their average qualifying position, front-row starts and Q3 appearances. The dashboard also calculates the average qualifying gap using the last qualifying segment in which both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton recorded a representative valid lap.
This distinction matters because comparing a Q3 time for one driver with a Q2 time for the other would not always provide a fair indication of their relative qualifying pace. Where possible, the comparison therefore uses the final common qualifying segment.
Qualifying results can still be influenced by factors such as traffic, track evolution, tyre preparation, yellow or red flags and changing weather conditions, so the numbers should be interpreted alongside the circumstances of each session.
Race results and championship points
The season overview uses the official Grand Prix and Sprint classifications to track championship points, championship position, victories, podiums, top-five finishes, points finishes and retirements.
Official classification is particularly important in Formula 1 because the position a driver occupies on track when they complete their final timed lap is not necessarily their final result. Post-race penalties, classified retirements and other decisions can alter the official finishing order.
For that reason, the race-result statistics on this page are kept separate from the lap-timing analysis. Official classifications determine championship points and finishing positions, while timing data is used for analytical metrics such as Race Pace and clean-lap comparisons.
You can also follow the full championship situation on the Formula 1 driver standings page and Ferrari’s position in the Formula 1 constructor standings.
Who has better race pace: Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton?
Race pace is one of the most interesting statistics when comparing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton because it looks beyond where each driver finished.
The Race Pace calculation uses the median of eligible racing laps for each driver. A lower median lap time represents faster sustained pace across the usable sample.
The race-by-race chart shows which Ferrari driver had the advantage at each Grand Prix. Bars above zero represent an advantage for Charles Leclerc, while bars below zero represent an advantage for Lewis Hamilton.
The size of the bar shows the difference in median pace per lap. A small advantage of only a few hundredths of a second can indicate an extremely close race, while a larger gap may point towards a more significant difference in performance, strategy or circumstances.
Race Pace should not be interpreted as a definitive judgment on which driver performed better. Different tyre compounds, stint lengths, traffic, car damage, tyre management, fuel saving and team instructions can all affect lap times.
How Race Pace is calculated
The aim of the Race Pace metric is to compare representative racing laps rather than simply averaging every recorded lap.
The calculation excludes Lap 1 because the race start and opening-lap traffic make it fundamentally different from a normal racing lap. Pit-in and pit-out laps are excluded because the drivers are entering or leaving the pit lane rather than completing a representative racing lap.
Laps affected by Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car periods are also removed from the Race Pace median because drivers are operating under controlled speeds. Red-flag interruptions and invalid, deleted or missing timing data are excluded where appropriate.
The remaining eligible laps are ordered by lap time and the median is used as the Race Pace figure. This method is less vulnerable than a simple average to isolated unusually slow laps caused by traffic, mistakes or other short-lived events.
Race pace vs official race result
The driver with the faster Race Pace does not necessarily finish ahead in the Grand Prix.
A Formula 1 result is influenced by far more than raw lap speed. Strategy, starting position, pit-stop timing, traffic, penalties, Safety Cars, reliability and overtaking difficulty can all affect where a driver finishes.
For example, one Ferrari driver might record a faster median pace but lose time because of an unfavourable Safety Car or a longer pit stop. Conversely, a driver with slightly slower underlying pace may achieve the stronger result through track position and strategy.
This is why the dashboard presents Official Race Classification and Race Pace as separate head-to-head statistics rather than attempting to combine them into one score.
Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton fastest laps
The Fastest Lap comparison tracks the quickest valid Grand Prix lap recorded by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at each race.
This statistic represents peak lap performance rather than sustained speed. A driver may record their fastest lap late in a race on fresh tyres, a lighter fuel load and relatively clear track, while their teammate may have had better pace across the majority of the Grand Prix.
That means a faster individual lap does not automatically imply better overall race performance. Comparing Fastest Lap with Race Pace helps reveal whether a driver’s advantage existed throughout the race or only during a particularly strong lap or stint.
Comparable clean laps: who was faster more often?
The advanced comparison goes beyond season averages by analysing laps where both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have comparable clean racing data.
For each same-lap comparison, the tool checks which Ferrari driver recorded the quicker lap. The resulting percentage shows how often each driver was faster across the comparable clean-lap sample.
This statistic provides a different perspective from median Race Pace. A driver may win the Race Pace comparison despite being slower on slightly more individual laps if their faster laps carried a larger advantage or if the balance changed significantly between different phases of the race.
As with every Formula 1 lap-time statistic, context remains essential. Drivers can be on different tyre ages or compounds even when the lap number is identical.
What does clean-lap consistency mean?
The consistency statistic measures the typical variation in each driver’s clean racing lap times across the analysed races. A lower value represents a tighter spread of lap times.
Consistency should not automatically be interpreted as superior performance. A driver deliberately managing tyres at a controlled pace may appear highly consistent, while another driver pushing aggressively through traffic could produce greater variation.
The statistic is therefore most useful when considered alongside median Race Pace, strategy and the race-by-race lap-time data.
Average race classification and qualifying position
Average official race classification provides an overview of where Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have been classified across the season, while average qualifying position measures their typical starting performance.
Lower numbers are better in both cases. However, the two statistics measure different parts of a Formula 1 weekend. A driver can qualify strongly but lose positions in the race, while another may start further back and recover through strategy and race pace.
Looking at both together helps show whether the balance between the Ferrari drivers changes from Saturday qualifying to Sunday racing.
Sprint head-to-head
Formula 1 Sprint weekends introduce another opportunity to compare Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton directly.
The dashboard tracks official Sprint classifications, Sprint points and Sprint podiums separately from the main Grand Prix statistics. Keeping these results separate prevents the shorter race format from distorting the full-distance Grand Prix head-to-head.
Sprint points are nevertheless included in the official championship-points totals because they contribute to the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Laps led by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Laps led provides another view of how often each Ferrari driver has controlled the front of a Grand Prix.
It should not be treated as a direct measure of race pace. Drivers can lead because of alternative pit strategies, Safety Car timing or by remaining on track while rivals stop. However, over a season it provides useful context about how frequently each driver has been in a position to control the race.
Race-by-race Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton stats
The race-by-race table brings the main comparisons together for every Grand Prix included in the database.
For each race you can see the qualifying result, official Grand Prix classification, median Race Pace and fastest lap for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. This makes it easier to identify weekends where one driver clearly held the advantage and races where the different statistics tell contrasting stories.
On mobile devices, the table can be swiped horizontally to reveal all available columns without compressing the statistics into unreadably narrow cells.
If you want to investigate one particular Grand Prix in greater detail, open the F1 Race Pace & Lap Time Comparison and select Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. That tool provides the full lap-by-lap chart and detailed timing table for the chosen race.
Why teammate comparisons are useful in Formula 1
Comparing drivers from different teams is difficult because car performance can account for a large part of the difference in results and lap times. A teammate comparison reduces some of that uncertainty because both drivers operate within the same team and broadly the same technical package.
Even then, Formula 1 cars are not always identical in every circumstance. Upgrade availability, car damage, setup choices and component specifications can differ during a race weekend. Driving style can also influence tyre behaviour and the way each driver extracts performance from the car.
For that reason, the Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton statistics should be treated as evidence that helps explain their 2026 season rather than a definitive ranking of their ability.
For deeper analysis of the Ferrari car itself, visit our Ferrari Technical Analysis section.
Follow Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on ScuderiaFans
ScuderiaFans covers both Ferrari drivers throughout the Formula 1 season, including race weekends, technical developments, interviews and championship developments.
For the latest stories about each driver, visit the dedicated Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sections.
You can also explore the wider Formula 1 Statistics section for additional data tools and follow the complete season through the Formula 1 schedule and results.
Frequently asked questions
Who is ahead between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in 2026?
The live dashboard at the top of this page shows the latest championship positions, points and head-to-head statistics for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The figures update as additional 2026 race data is imported.
Who is winning the Leclerc vs Hamilton qualifying head-to-head?
The Qualifying card in the Head-to-Head Score section shows how many Grand Prix qualifying sessions each Ferrari driver has won against the other. The race-by-race table also shows their qualifying positions and the relevant qualifying gap.
Who has better race pace, Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton?
The answer can change from circuit to circuit. The Race Pace head-to-head counts the Grands Prix in which each driver recorded the faster median across eligible clean racing laps, while the Race Pace Advantage chart shows the size of the gap for each race.
Does the driver with better race pace always finish ahead?
No. Race results are affected by strategy, starting position, traffic, pit stops, penalties, Safety Cars, reliability and many other factors. It is entirely possible for one driver to have faster underlying Race Pace while their teammate achieves the stronger official result.
How is the qualifying gap calculated?
The qualifying-gap comparison uses the final qualifying segment in which both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton recorded a valid representative lap. This avoids directly comparing laps from different qualifying phases when possible.
Are Safety Car laps included in the race-pace calculation?
No. Laps affected by Safety Cars and Virtual Safety Cars are excluded from the Race Pace median because drivers are operating under controlled speeds rather than normal racing conditions.
Are pit-stop laps included?
No. Pit-in and pit-out laps are excluded from Race Pace because entering or leaving the pit lane makes the resulting lap time unsuitable for a direct pace comparison.
Are Sprint races included in the comparison?
Yes. Sprint classifications, Sprint points and Sprint podiums are tracked separately. Sprint points are also included in the championship-points totals because they count towards the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Why can a driver be listed as DNF but still have a classification position?
A driver who retires late in a Grand Prix may still be officially classified if they completed enough of the race distance. The dashboard uses the official result for finishing-position statistics while separately identifying retirements where reliable status data is available.
Is this an all-time Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton comparison?
No. The current dashboard focuses on their direct 2026 Ferrari teammate comparison. This makes the statistics more meaningful because the two drivers are competing for the same team during the same season.
Where can I compare Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lap by lap?
Use the F1 Race Pace & Lap Time Comparison. Select the race and choose Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to view their Race Pace, individual lap times and fastest laps for that Grand Prix.
