Jean Alesi believes Charles Leclerc is struggling with the Ferrari SF-26 in a way he has never experienced before, with the Monegasque driver yet to establish the feeling he needs from the team’s 2026 Formula 1 car. Although Charles Leclerc has already won at Silverstone this season, he sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship and trails team-mate Lewis Hamilton by 31 points.
The former French driver expressed concern about Charles Leclerc’s difficulties while also assessing Lewis Hamilton’s performances during the opening 11 Grands Prix of the campaign. His comments underline the contrasting challenges facing Ferrari’s two drivers as the team evaluates a first half of the season that Frédéric Vasseur has admitted is not yet good enough.
Charles Leclerc struggles to find confidence in the Ferrari SF-26
Charles Leclerc has made no secret of the adaptation problems he has encountered with the Ferrari SF-26 during the first part of 2026. More broadly, he has struggled to adjust to Formula 1’s new generation of cars, which do not allow him to exploit the trademark aggression that has traditionally made him so effective in qualifying.
That situation is reflected in the championship standings. The Monegasque is fourth, 31 points behind Lewis Hamilton, despite regularly finishing ahead of the seven-time world champion during the 2025 season.
Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone remains a major highlight, but the Hungarian Grand Prix again demonstrated the inconsistency he has faced. At a circuit that has never particularly suited him, he dropped from second on the grid to fifth beneath the chequered flag. He was subsequently promoted to fourth because of Lewis Hamilton’s penalty, as shown in the final 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix classification.
Ferrari’s performance at the Hungaroring was not simply a matter of insufficient aerodynamic load. A closer technical analysis of the SF-26’s Hungarian Grand Prix weakness highlights the broader difficulties involved in extracting its performance consistently.
Charles Leclerc’s record after 11 Grands Prix with Ferrari
A comparison of Charles Leclerc’s first 11 Grands Prix in each Ferrari season illustrates how his 2026 campaign measures against previous years:
- 2019: Fifth in the championship with 120 points, no victories, two pole positions and five podiums.
- 2020: Eighth with 63 points, no victories or pole positions and two podiums.
- 2021: Seventh with 80 points, no victories, two pole positions and one podium.
- 2022: Second after 11 Grands Prix and two Sprints, with 170 points, three victories, six pole positions and five podiums.
- 2023: Seventh after 11 Grands Prix and one Sprint, with 80 points, no victories, one pole position and two podiums.
- 2024: Third after 11 Grands Prix and three Sprints, with 150 points, one victory, one pole position and five podiums.
- 2025: Fifth after 11 Grands Prix and one Sprint, with 119 points, no victories or pole positions and four podiums.
- 2026: Fourth after 11 Grands Prix and four Sprints, with 138 points, one victory, no pole positions and four podiums.
Jean Alesi concerned by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari difficulties
In his customary column for Corriere della Sera, Jean Alesi addressed the difficult period being experienced by the Ferrari driver.
“Charles Leclerc is struggling like never before: he does not seem to have any feeling with this car, and I hope he can solve his problems,” Jean Alesi explained.
The former French driver also offered his assessment of Lewis Hamilton, recognising the Briton’s speed while pointing to occasional lapses.
“Lewis Hamilton is fast, with a few moments of distraction. Although, when you brake at the end of the straight while going downhill, the mirrors often show the sky rather than a rival. And if you then have a phenomenon like Max Verstappen behind you, everything becomes more complicated,” Jean Alesi added.
Ferrari therefore entered the summer break with both drivers having demonstrated considerable speed, but with Charles Leclerc still searching for the confidence required to maximise the SF-26. Resolving that lack of feeling will be crucial if the Monegasque is to recover ground on Lewis Hamilton during the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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