Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok believes the coming weeks could prove decisive for Charles Leclerc, as Lewis Hamilton’s growing confidence at Ferrari has dramatically reshaped the team’s internal battle during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
After a difficult spell that included disappointment at the Monaco Grand Prix and another frustrating weekend in Spain, Charles Leclerc now heads into the Austrian Grand Prix under increasing pressure to halt Lewis Hamilton’s surge and rebuild his own championship challenge.
Lewis Hamilton’s breakthrough changes Ferrari’s internal dynamic
While Ferrari has shown clear signs of progress with the SF-26 in recent races, the momentum inside the Maranello-based squad has shifted noticeably. Lewis Hamilton’s commanding victory at the Spanish Grand Prix not only delivered his first Formula 1 win in Ferrari colours but also reignited his championship ambitions, significantly reducing the gap to the front of the standings.
At the same time, Charles Leclerc has endured one of his toughest periods in recent memory. The Monegasque driver crashed out of his home race in Monaco after battling handling and brake-related concerns before suffering another setback in Barcelona, where a qualifying error compromised his weekend before a suspected hydraulic issue forced him out of the race.
Having recently committed his long-term future to Ferrari with a contract extension, Charles Leclerc now finds himself trailing the Briton by 40 points in the Drivers’ Championship, making the next sequence of races increasingly important for both his title hopes and his position within the team.
Karun Chandhok believes Charles Leclerc must regain control
Karun Chandhok suggested that outright speed has not been Charles Leclerc’s biggest concern. Instead, the former Formula 1 driver argued that the Ferrari driver must now eliminate costly mistakes and regain control of his campaign before the summer break.
According to Karun Chandhok, the former Alfa Romeo driver had consistently demonstrated competitive pace in both Monaco and Barcelona, but self-inflicted errors prevented him from converting that speed into strong results. The analyst believed that the upcoming races in Austria, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps would be particularly important, warning that Charles Leclerc needed to stop the current trend before Lewis Hamilton established clear internal momentum within Ferrari.
Rather than questioning Charles Leclerc’s natural speed, Karun Chandhok’s assessment focused on consistency, suggesting that the Ferrari driver now needs clean weekends and solid points finishes to prevent Lewis Hamilton from strengthening his position inside the Scuderia.
Charles Leclerc still has every chance to respond
Despite recent setbacks, writing off Charles Leclerc would be premature. The Ferrari driver has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to recover from difficult periods and remains one of the fastest qualifiers and race drivers on the Formula 1 grid.
Only a season ago, Charles Leclerc comfortably finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the championship, ending the campaign 86 points clear of the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion. That performance highlighted the level the Monegasque is capable of producing when he finds confidence in the car and strings together consistent weekends.
Ferrari has also continued working to improve Charles Leclerc’s comfort with the SF-26. One notable change has been his adoption of a brake configuration similar to the one Lewis Hamilton has preferred since earlier this season, reflecting the team’s willingness to explore different solutions as it seeks to maximise both drivers’ performance.
Charles Leclerc remains confident despite recent frustrations
Although speculation has emerged that the current Ferrari package may naturally suit Lewis Hamilton’s driving style, the 28-year-old dismissed those suggestions ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver insisted that he remained calm about the situation, explaining that his main objective was simply to complete a clean weekend together with the team and return to the level of performance he believes they are capable of achieving. Charles Leclerc also indicated that Ferrari had already solved several underlying issues over recent race weekends, giving him confidence that stronger performances could soon follow.
With Austria marking the beginning of an intense run of races before the summer shutdown, Ferrari’s internal battle between the Briton and and his Maranello teammate appears set to become one of the defining stories of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Whether Charles Leclerc can immediately respond to Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence may not only influence the championship standings but could also shape the balance of power inside Ferrari for the remainder of the campaign.
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