Jenson Button believes Formula 1’s new regulations have transformed Ferrari’s internal battle
The competitive balance between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has become one of the most fascinating storylines of the 2026 Formula 1 season. After spending much of last year adapting to life at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton has now emerged as the stronger performer in recent races, while Charles Leclerc has unexpectedly found himself on the back foot.
Former Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button believes there is a clear explanation for the shift. Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Button suggested that the current technical regulations have fundamentally changed how Ferrari’s SF-26 behaves, naturally favouring Lewis Hamilton’s driving style over that of Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton has turned the tide at Ferrari
The Austrian Grand Prix marked another important milestone in Ferrari’s evolving teammate battle. Although Charles Leclerc secured the higher grid position in qualifying, Lewis Hamilton once again demonstrated stronger race pace, extending a remarkable run of Grand Prix victories over his teammate in recent events.
The contrast is particularly striking when compared to the 2025 campaign. During his debut season with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton struggled to consistently match Charles Leclerc over a full race distance as he adapted to a completely different team, engineering philosophy and car characteristics. Twelve months later, the situation has almost completely reversed.
With Lewis Hamilton now firmly established among the championship contenders and Ferrari continuing to improve the SF-26, the seven-time World Champion appears increasingly comfortable with both the team and the latest generation of Formula 1 machinery.
Button believes the SF-26 suits Lewis Hamilton far better
Drawing on his own experience of racing alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, Jenson Button argued that the biggest factor behind Ferrari’s changing internal hierarchy is not driver ability but the characteristics of the current regulations.
According to Button’s assessment, last year’s Ferrari package naturally suited Charles Leclerc’s preferred driving style, whereas the 2026 car has shifted the balance in favour of Lewis Hamilton. He explained that every Formula 1 driver has unique setup preferences, making it ineffective to simply copy the configuration used by a teammate whose driving technique is fundamentally different.
Instead, Button believes the solution for Charles Leclerc lies in continuing to work closely with his engineers to gradually steer development toward a setup that better complements his own strengths.
Charles Leclerc’s difficult season has also affected his confidence
Beyond the technical differences, Button also pointed to another important factor that may be influencing Charles Leclerc’s performances throughout the season.
The former world champion noted that the Ferrari driver has endured an unusually high number of setbacks in 2026, including brake-related issues, technical problems and race incidents that have repeatedly disrupted his momentum. Even the switch to a different brake material has not delivered the consistency the Monegasque had hoped for.
Button suggested that such interruptions inevitably affect a driver’s confidence, particularly when they occur over several consecutive race weekends. In Formula 1, confidence often plays a decisive role in extracting the final few tenths of performance from both the car and the driver.
Austria highlighted an unexpected trend
What surprised Button most about the Austrian Grand Prix was not simply that Lewis Hamilton finished ahead, but the size of the performance difference during the race.
Historically, Charles Leclerc has built a reputation as one of Formula 1’s fastest drivers over a single lap while also producing extremely competitive race pace. Seeing him unable to consistently match Lewis Hamilton throughout the Grand Prix was, in Button’s view, one of the more unusual developments of the weekend.
Even so, the Briton does not expect this pattern to continue indefinitely. Every Formula 1 circuit places different demands on both the drivers and the cars, meaning the competitive balance inside Ferrari could easily swing back as the championship progresses.
Ferrari still has two elite drivers capable of fighting at the front
Despite Charles Leclerc’s recent struggles, Button remains convinced that the Monegasque possesses the talent required to return to his best. He also believes Ferrari has the right people around him to help him overcome this difficult phase and rebuild momentum over the coming races.
With several major upgrades still planned for the SF-26, including further ADUO power unit developments, Ferrari’s internal battle is likely to remain one of the defining stories of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
As Lewis Hamilton continues to grow stronger in his second campaign with the Scuderia and Charles Leclerc works to rediscover the form that made him Ferrari’s benchmark in previous years, the duel between the two teammates could become even more compelling during the second half of the championship.
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