Frédéric Vasseur has praised the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc despite the fierce competition developing between Ferrari’s two drivers in 2026. According to the Ferrari team principal, both drivers are intensely focused on beating the other from the very beginning of a Grand Prix weekend, even during free practice, but their rivalry has not prevented them from collaborating and helping to push the team forward.
The internal balance at Ferrari has changed considerably compared with 2025. Last season, Charles Leclerc held a clear advantage over Lewis Hamilton across qualifying, races and the championship standings. In 2026, however, the seven-time world champion has reversed part of that picture and now leads his team-mate on points after the opening 11 Grands Prix.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari battle is much closer in 2026
During the 2025 season, Charles Leclerc won the qualifying head-to-head by a commanding 19-5 margin. His advantage was even greater in races, where the Monegasque driver finished ahead 20-4. The final points comparison was similarly decisive, with Charles Leclerc scoring 242 points against Lewis Hamilton’s 156.
Twelve months later, the situation is very different. After 11 Grands Prix in 2026, Lewis Hamilton leads the points comparison 169-138, placing the British driver ahead of his Ferrari team-mate in the current Formula 1 drivers’ standings.
Charles Leclerc still holds the advantage in qualifying, leading 7-4, while Lewis Hamilton has moved ahead in the race head-to-head by the narrowest of margins at 6-5. It is therefore a substantially closer contest than Ferrari experienced between its drivers last season.
The comparison also has to take into account both Formula 1’s regulatory change and the problems Charles Leclerc has encountered during the season, including his retirements in Monaco and Barcelona. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s campaign has also included its own lost opportunities, with several setbacks affecting his 2026 points total.
Frédéric Vasseur explains why Ferrari benefits from the rivalry
During an extensive interview with French publication Auto Hebdo around the Formula 1 summer break, Frédéric Vasseur discussed how the competition between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc contributes to Ferrari’s overall performance.
“Part of the performance always comes from the comparison between the two drivers,” Frédéric Vasseur explained. “It happens with us, but also at McLaren and Mercedes, a little less at Red Bull for other reasons. But Mercedes and McLaren are in the same situation as us: one week one is ahead of the other and then the opposite happens. It’s part of performance.”
The Ferrari team principal’s comments underline how closely matched team-mates can become an important reference for an organisation attempting to extract more performance from its car. With each driver trying to maximise every session, the comparison provides the team with continuous feedback on both individual performance and the potential of the package.
That competitive dynamic forms part of Ferrari’s broader 2026 situation, which Frédéric Vasseur also assessed in his mid-season verdict on the team’s progress.
Ferrari must come before Hamilton and Leclerc’s personal battle
Frédéric Vasseur nevertheless stressed that the interests of Ferrari must remain above the personal rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Competition between team-mates can contribute to performance, but only while both drivers continue to respect the team and each other.
“They have to respect the team, just as we respect them. They have to behave correctly,” Frédéric Vasseur said. “I can see that they collaborate and push each other towards performance. We also progress because they are at 110% on every lap. Even in free practice, the most important thing for them is to be ahead of their team-mate.” – the French manager pointed out.
That combination of cooperation and competition is particularly significant as Ferrari navigates the second half of the 2026 championship. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remain direct rivals inside the same garage, but Frédéric Vasseur sees their determination to beat each other as something that can also contribute to the Scuderia’s progress, provided the interests of the team continue to come first.
The increasingly close balance between the pair also ensures that discussions around Ferrari’s internal hierarchy are unlikely to disappear. With Lewis Hamilton ahead on points but Charles Leclerc still holding the qualifying advantage, their battle remains finely poised as the 2026 season continues.
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