Former Mercedes and Ferrari performance engineer Jock Clear has revealed that Ferrari internally never expected Lewis Hamilton to immediately match the pace of Charles Leclerc when the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion joined the Scuderia.
After a challenging debut campaign in red, the Briton has reportedly begun to settle into life at Ferrari, showing a noticeable step forward in confidence, consistency, and race performance during the current Formula 1 season.
His first podium finish for the Italian side marked a symbolic breakthrough moment, reinforcing the belief that Lewis Hamilton still possesses the ability to compete at the very highest level of the sport despite the difficulties experienced during his initial adaptation phase.
Some paddock observers have even suggested that Lewis Hamilton has started to push Charles Leclerc harder than in previous seasons, with the intra-team dynamic becoming increasingly competitive as both drivers extract performance from the evolving Ferrari package.
However, according to Jock Clear, who serves as a driver coach within the Ferrari environment and previously worked closely with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, this progression was always part of the expected development curve rather than an immediate transformation.
Lewis Hamilton adaptation required time to adjust to Ferrari’s engineering culture
Speaking in an interview with F1 journalist and Youtuber Peter Windsor, Jock Clear explained that Lewis Hamilton needed time to adapt not only to a new car but also to an entirely different technical and cultural environment within Ferrari compared to his long-standing experience at Mercedes.
He emphasised that transitioning between top Formula 1 teams involves more than just driving style changes, as each organisation operates with a distinct engineering philosophy, internal communication structure, and development methodology often described as a unique “DNA”.
Jock Clear reportedly noted that the challenges faced by Lewis Hamilton in his first Ferrari season should not have been surprising, as such adjustments are historically difficult even for the most successful drivers in Formula 1.
He also suggested that criticisms downplaying the Briton’s career achievements fail to account for how significantly team environments influence performance, highlighting that switching from Mercedes to Ferrari represents a complete reset in operational context.
According to his comments, once Lewis Hamilton spent more time within Ferrari, building relationships with engineers and contributing more directly to car development, his performance trajectory began to improve naturally.
Jock Clear further explained that the improvement is not solely reflected in lap times, but also in body language, confidence, and overall race execution, with the Briton appearing more comfortable and engaged inside the cockpit.
He added that confidence plays a crucial role in unlocking performance in Formula 1, as drivers are only able to fully explore the limits of a car once trust in its behaviour is established, which then allows teams such as Ferrari to refine weaknesses through continuous development.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc competitive balance at Ferrari
Jock Clear also addressed expectations surrounding the internal battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, stating that Ferrari anticipated a close and evolving competitive relationship rather than immediate dominance from either driver.
He explained that while it was expected for Lewis Hamilton to eventually challenge Charles Leclerc, this level of performance parity was never realistically expected from the very beginning of his Ferrari tenure, especially during the early adaptation phase.
Clear added that frustration shown by Lewis Hamilton during difficult periods should not be interpreted as a lack of preparation, but rather as a reflection of his winning mentality and extremely high personal standards.
He described Lewis Hamilton as a driver who consistently demands maximum performance from himself, meaning any period without podiums or victories naturally leads to visible frustration, even when he fully understands the long-term development process involved.
Reflecting on his experience working with the seven-time world champion over the years, Jock Clear highlighted that the British driver’s work ethic remains exceptionally strong, with his commitment to improvement and technical feedback still being a defining characteristic of his approach inside Formula 1.
He concluded that the current season appears to be “bearing fruit” for Lewis Hamilton, as increased familiarity with Ferrari’s systems and greater confidence in the car have translated into more consistent and competitive performances.
While questions still remain about how far the Lewis Hamilton–Ferrari partnership can progress in the championship fight, the overall trajectory suggests a clear upward trend, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc expected to play key roles in Ferrari’s push in the constructors’ standings.
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