Charles Leclerc has no intention of conceding ground to Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari’s internal battle for number-one status, according to his long-time mental coach Riccardo Ceccarelli. With neither driver establishing an undisputed hierarchy inside the Scuderia during the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Italian believes the two are effectively competing on equal terms while continuing their own fight within Ferrari’s wider campaign.
The situation contrasts with the clearer hierarchies Ceccarelli sees at several other leading teams. Red Bull revolves around Max Verstappen, Mercedes has increasingly centred around Kimi Antonelli, while McLaren has Lando Norris. At Ferrari, however, the balance between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has remained much less defined.
Hamilton appeared to hold the stronger position during the first half of the season, but Leclerc’s adaptation to Formula 1’s new regulations has brought the contest back towards equilibrium. The Monegasque’s determination to assert himself has become another important element in the wider discussion around Charles Leclerc’s influence inside Ferrari.
Riccardo Ceccarelli sees a competition within Ferrari’s competition
Riccardo Ceccarelli addressed the subject after Ferrari chose to use the same strategy for both drivers at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both started the Sepang race on slick tyres despite standing water still being present, prompting questions over why Ferrari had not divided its approach and gambled on dry tyres with only one car.
The Monegasque explained after the race that splitting the strategy in that way would effectively have meant favouring one driver over the other, something that apparently was not considered an acceptable option at the time.
When presented with that explanation, Ceccarelli argued that Ferrari is currently unusual among the leading teams because both of its drivers are still competing directly for internal supremacy. In his assessment, the track has already established a clearer hierarchy elsewhere, while at Maranello neither driver is prepared to step aside.
That leaves Hamilton and Leclerc fighting on equal terms, creating what Ceccarelli views as a separate competition within Ferrari’s overall championship effort. The evolving dynamic can also be followed through ScuderiaFans’ dedicated Charles Leclerc coverage and Lewis Hamilton coverage.
Sepang strategy highlighted Ferrari’s equal-driver approach
The Malaysian race provided a particularly visible example of that balance. Both Ferrari drivers were sent into the race on slick tyres rather than splitting their strategies, even though conditions remained difficult.
The outcome initially hurt both cars, but Ferrari eventually recovered. Ceccarelli noted that a combination of Safety Car timing and execution helped one of the Scuderia’s cars reach the podium. Lewis Hamilton ultimately finished third after losing substantial time early in the race.
At the same time, the Italian performance specialist acknowledged that there is no way of knowing exactly how Ferrari’s race would have developed had the team started on intermediates instead. In his view, Max Verstappen nevertheless appeared extremely difficult to beat on the day.
The strategy decision has remained a subject of discussion inside the team, with Hamilton later confirming that Ferrari held talks following the failed Sepang tyre gamble.
Charles Leclerc has always needed to be the best
Ceccarelli’s interpretation of the Ferrari rivalry is also shaped by his long experience working with Charles Leclerc. In an earlier interview, the mental coach described a competitive personality that has been evident since the Monegasque was around 13 years old.
According to Ceccarelli, Leclerc has consistently wanted to win at everything he does. That tendency extended even into mental training sessions, where the Ferrari driver felt compelled to produce the best result available rather than simply complete the exercise.
Ceccarelli regards that relentless drive as one of Leclerc’s major strengths. His assessment is that the Monegasque has never been comfortable accepting that somebody else is ahead of him, whether the competition involves Formula 1, testing or something as ordinary as a bicycle ride.
That instinct helps explain why the battle with Lewis Hamilton carries such significance. The seven-time world champion arrived at Ferrari with an exceptional record and immediately created the strongest internal benchmark Leclerc has faced in recent years. Rather than yielding to that status, the Monegasque has continued trying to establish himself as the team’s reference driver.
Ferrari still has no settled number-one driver
The lack of a formal hierarchy gives Ferrari a very different dynamic from rivals where results have already established a clearer lead driver. Ceccarelli sees neither Lewis Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc backing away from the contest, which means every qualifying session, strategy decision and race result can contribute to the internal balance.
That competitiveness can be valuable. Two drivers pushing each other can raise the level of the entire team, particularly when both believe they have a legitimate claim to leadership. At the same time, the Sepang strategy illustrated how maintaining complete equality can complicate situations in which dividing tactics might otherwise be considered.
Ceccarelli also identified a potential downside to Leclerc’s intense competitive mentality. The same refusal to accept second place that can help create a world champion may, in some situations, narrow the driver’s focus too much if beating his team-mate becomes the overriding reference point.
That does not change the fundamental picture inside Maranello. Hamilton established himself strongly during the opening half of 2026, while Leclerc’s improved adaptation to the new generation of Formula 1 machinery has restored the balance.
For Ferrari, the result is an unusual but compelling situation: two drivers with different careers and profiles, both still trying to prove that they should be the Scuderia’s central reference. Ceccarelli’s assessment is that Charles Leclerc’s personality makes one outcome particularly unlikely — voluntarily stepping back and allowing Lewis Hamilton to claim that position without a fight.
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