The debate surrounding the comparison between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton is becoming increasingly intense, with experts and commentators offering different views on which Ferrari driver could emerge as the team’s leading figure this season.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Spain and Charles Leclerc’s second retirement of the year—this time caused by a combination of power steering and brake-by-wire failures—the discussion has gained even more momentum. Many are now questioning who will ultimately come out on top in Ferrari’s highly anticipated intra-team battle.
While Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly spoken about making changes behind the scenes, including adjustments to his working group and the arrival of his new race engineer Carlo Santi, Charles Leclerc has found himself facing heavy criticism after his qualifying mistake in Spain.
To be fair, the Monegasque driver has never been afraid to acknowledge his own mistakes when they occur. However, there is little he can do when brake-related issues and sudden mechanical failures strike during a Grand Prix. Pure speed does not appear to be the problem, but like Lewis Hamilton, he is still adapting to the evolving characteristics of the SF-26.
Pino Allievi: “We all thought he would be Ferrari’s attacking force this year”
“We have to acknowledge the fact that in the last four Grands Prix he has always finished behind Hamilton. Leclerc was used to being Ferrari’s little king, and rightly so, because he had overturned Ferrari’s initial idea of making Hamilton the main reference point. Last year, he was Ferrari’s only true benchmark.
“I don’t want to say that he became complacent, but he was in a very comfortable situation. We all thought that this year, with a competitive car, he would be the attacking force, and instead we have found a Hamilton who attacks, who is very positive and who is fast in qualifying.”
Those were the comments made by veteran Italian journalist Pino Allievi during the FormulaPassion.it podcast. According to Allievi, Charles Leclerc is struggling to accept that another driver might be capable of matching—or even exceeding—his pace while also having such a strong influence within the team.
“Today Leclerc is suffering because of Hamilton, perhaps because he underestimated him and because he never accepted the idea that there could be someone in the team who is faster than him. When Carlos Sainz was ahead of him, he suffered enormously. He never tolerated being behind him and was always pushing to respond.
“He is not a jealous driver, but he struggles when someone else shows superiority and can achieve the same level of performance in equal machinery. He needs to rediscover his concentration, just as Hamilton did over the winter. He needs to disappear for a while, find himself again in silence, look within, and return to being Leclerc.”
Despite his criticism, Allievi remains convinced of Charles Leclerc’s raw potential and ultimate speed.
“Despite everything, I think Leclerc is overall faster than the current Hamilton. He simply needs to enter the same mindset as a Hamilton who finally has a car capable of fighting for the world championship.”
The comments reflect a growing discussion within the Formula 1 paddock. While Lewis Hamilton’s recent form has transformed the momentum inside Ferrari, many still believe Charles Leclerc possesses the outright speed to fight back. The remainder of the season could therefore provide one of the most fascinating teammate battles on the grid, as both drivers attempt to establish themselves as Ferrari’s leading contender in the championship fight.
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