How Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s contrasting driving styles could challenge Ferrari in 2026. Differing driving styles of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton pose a major challenge for Ferrari.

After the Austrian Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari managed to climb back up to second place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship standings, marking a positive shift in their 2025 campaign. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton delivered one of their strongest performances of the season, although the result was aided by some unusual circumstances. Mercedes struggled significantly with the challenging conditions at the Red Bull Ring, with George Russell finishing a full minute behind race winner Lando Norris, highlighting the difficulties faced by the Silver Arrows team.

The race was further shaken up when Red Bull Racing’s star driver Max Verstappen was taken out on the opening lap due to a collision involving the Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen’s weekend had already been compromised by a yellow flag during qualifying triggered by Pierre Gasly, adding to the challenges for the reigning world champion.

Meanwhile, pressure mounted once again on AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda, who failed to compete with the leading pack, effectively allowing the Ferrari duo to manage their own race pace and secure third and fourth positions on the grid. Lewis Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s strategic decision to pit him for a second time, as he was attempting to close the gap to his teammate Charles Leclerc. Despite Hamilton’s concerns, the Scuderia, operating without their team principal Fred Vasseur who was absent due to personal reasons, preferred to opt for a more conservative and straightforward race strategy in order to consolidate their position in the Constructors’ standings.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s Contrasting Driving Styles Present Ferrari With a 2026 Challenge

With Ferrari unlikely to seriously contend for either the Drivers’ or Constructors’ Championships in the remainder of the 2025 season, the team’s focus has shifted increasingly towards preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, which will bring a comprehensive overhaul of car design and technical parameters. Ferrari has already redirected considerable resources in the wind tunnel towards developing the successor to the current SF-25.

However, statements made in interviews after the Austrian Grand Prix suggest that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have differing preferences regarding the setup and characteristics they expect from the forthcoming 2026 Ferrari car. Charles Leclerc described the team’s weekend as very positive overall, highlighting the benefits of the upgrades introduced which allowed the team to make progress and start narrowing the performance gap to McLaren. He explained that although they remained off the pace of the McLaren drivers, particularly Lando Norris, they continued to push hard. The Monegasque recounted how he attempted to close in on Norris at the first corner but unintentionally left room for teammate Oscar Piastri to overtake him. He admitted that the first stint was demanding with significant tire degradation but accepted this as part of race management without regrets.

Lewis Hamilton also expressed satisfaction with his race pace and noted that at times he was able to match the speed of Charles Leclerc. However, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion revealed that he has begun to approach his car setup differently from his Monegasque teammate, emphasizing that their distinct driving styles necessitate individual approaches. Hamilton highlighted that Charles Leclerc drives with “enormous oversteer,” a characteristic that differs from Hamilton’s own style. As a result, Lewis Hamilton is focused on adapting the SF-25 to perform optimally under the conditions he prefers, which contrasts with Charles Leclerc’s setup requirements.

Emerging Challenges in the Ferrari Garage for the 2026 Formula 1 Car

After completing his first full season with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton will be hoping that the team has gained a clearer understanding of his car preferences to help unlock his full potential in 2026. Yet, if the level of oversteer preferred by Charles Leclerc remains a fundamental aspect of the car’s handling, Ferrari faces a challenging balancing act. Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur is expected to task technical director Loic Serra with the difficult job of developing a car capable of accommodating both drivers’ very different demands.

Rumors and paddock speculation about Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car have already started to circulate. Despite the anticipation surrounding the new regulations, Charles Leclerc has voiced some reservations, expressing skepticism after testing the new car concept in the team’s simulator ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.

In Formula 1, team principals generally strive to secure the two fastest drivers, but they ideally want both drivers to have similar feedback and expectations from their race cars. Red Bull Racing has experienced this challenge for years managing Max Verstappen and his various teammates, where mismatched driving styles have occasionally complicated car development. Ferrari will be hoping to avoid a similar dilemma with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as they prepare for a critical season ahead in 2026.