Lewis Hamilton: “Charles Leclerc avoids tyre degradation despite oversteer. It took Carlos Sainz two years to adapt”. Lewis Hamilton admits Charles Leclerc excels with an oversteering Ferrari setup without tyre wear.

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has offered a technical insight into the main differences between himself and teammate Charles Leclerc, especially after the opening 11 rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season. According to the British driver, Charles Leclerc’s ability to handle a car setup with significant oversteer—without suffering from excessive tyre degradation—is one of the key factors behind his current edge in performance.

Hamilton Playing Catch-Up in First Half of the Season

After 11 Grands Prix in the 2025 Formula 1 calendar, it is now possible to identify clear performance trends within the Ferrari garage. The most consistent and competitive driver so far has been Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque currently leads Lewis Hamilton in total points scored (119 to 91), in race head-to-head results (9–1), and in qualifying sessions (8–3). These statistics underline a performance gap between the two Ferrari drivers, with Charles Leclerc clearly more comfortable and better adapted to the characteristics of the SF-25 chassis.

Lewis Hamilton’s Post-Race Analysis

Following the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton reflected on his ongoing adaptation to the Ferrari car and discussed the technical differences compared to his teammate. Speaking after the qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring, Hamilton had noted that he was getting closer to Charles Leclerc in terms of car setup. However, following the race, he admitted that more work was still needed to unlock consistent race pace: “Qualifying went better,” explained the British driver, “but I still need to find race pace. I’m still losing a lot of ground. Losing eight or nine seconds to Charles Leclerc over a race distance is simply not good enough.”

The seven-time World Champion, who is still in his first season with the Maranello-based team after switching from Mercedes, acknowledged that he is carefully observing Charles Leclerc’s driving style to better understand how to extract performance from the Ferrari.

“He drives a car with a lot of oversteer, and somehow he manages to slide the rear end without causing tyre degradation. When I try to slide the rear of the car in a similar way, the tyre wear is massive,” Lewis Hamilton revealed.

He went on to reference Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc’s former teammate at Ferrari, suggesting that adapting to the unique characteristics of the Ferrari car may simply take time:
“I suppose it took Carlos Sainz a couple of years to fully adapt, and I don’t want it to take me that long. I think I’m making progress,” added Hamilton.

A Season of Learning for Hamilton at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has been one of the most high-profile moves in recent Formula 1 history. While the British driver brings a wealth of experience and championship pedigree, adapting to the setup philosophy and operational nuances of Ferrari appears to be a gradual process. With Charles Leclerc already deeply integrated into the Maranello team’s technical approach and car development direction, the Briton faces the challenge of adjusting his driving style to match a car that thrives under specific handling traits—particularly heavy oversteer, which Charles Leclerc manages with impressive tyre conservation.