Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable turnaround at Ferrari is not only strengthening the Scuderia’s championship ambitions but may also be influencing the direction taken by Charles Leclerc as the team enters a crucial phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
After enduring a frustrating campaign the previous year, Lewis Hamilton has emerged as one of the standout performers under Formula 1’s latest regulations. The seven-time world champion appears significantly more comfortable with the characteristics of the SF-26 and has steadily transformed himself into a genuine title contender.
Strong results throughout recent race weekends culminated in a breakthrough victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton secured his first win in Ferrari colors and reinforced the belief that both he and the team have finally found the right direction.
While Lewis Hamilton celebrated a career-defining moment in Barcelona, the situation was considerably more difficult for Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver suffered another disappointing afternoon after being forced to retire due to what was believed to be a hydraulic-related issue, extending a frustrating sequence of setbacks.
As a result, Charles Leclerc now finds himself trailing Lewis Hamilton in the championship standings, a scenario that few observers would have predicted at the beginning of the season.
Guenther Steiner sees the seven-time world champion becoming Ferrari’s reference point
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Charles Leclerc is intelligent enough to recognize what is currently working on the other side of the Ferrari garage and adapt accordingly.
Discussing the situation on The Red Flags podcast, Guenther Steiner suggested that the recent difficulties experienced by Charles Leclerc may ultimately prove beneficial if they encourage the Ferrari driver to reassess certain aspects of his approach.
According to Guenther Steiner, periods of adversity can often become valuable learning opportunities for elite athletes. While Charles Leclerc is undoubtedly frustrated by recent events, the former Haas boss argued that setbacks sometimes provide the motivation needed to make important improvements.
Guenther Steiner emphasized that nobody inside Formula 1 doubts the 28-year-old’s raw speed or natural talent. The Monegasque driver has consistently demonstrated race-winning ability throughout his Ferrari career and remains one of the fastest drivers on the grid over a single lap.
However, Guenther Steiner suggested that Charles Leclerc could increasingly draw inspiration from the path Lewis Hamilton has followed during recent months.
The former team principal pointed to developments surrounding Ferrari’s braking system as a notable example. Lewis Hamilton’s switch to a different brake configuration earlier in the season was widely regarded as a turning point in his adaptation process, helping him unlock greater confidence and consistency behind the wheel.
Charles Leclerc subsequently moved toward a similar setup after recognizing the benefits it had provided to his teammate. For Guenther Steiner, that decision demonstrated that the Monegasque is willing to learn from successful solutions regardless of where they originate. Rather than stubbornly persisting with an approach that is not delivering optimal results, the Ferrari driver appears prepared to adopt ideas that can improve performance.
In Guenther Steiner’s view, this willingness to evolve could become one of Charles Leclerc’s greatest strengths as the season progresses.
Lewis Hamilton’s experience is proving increasingly valuable
One of the recurring themes of Ferrari’s 2026 campaign has been the influence of Lewis Hamilton’s experience.
Having spent nearly two decades at the highest level of Formula 1, the Briton arrived at Ferrari with a vast understanding of car development, team leadership, and championship-winning processes. Many of the adjustments introduced throughout the season have reportedly been influenced by his technical feedback and preferences.
The results are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Lewis Hamilton has not only improved his personal performances but has also helped Ferrari make meaningful progress in areas that previously limited the team’s competitiveness. The SF-26 appears more balanced, more predictable, and increasingly capable of challenging at the front of the field. For Charles Leclerc, observing how Lewis Hamilton has adapted and extracted performance from the package could provide valuable lessons during a difficult period.
That does not mean Charles Leclerc is abandoning his own driving style or identity. Rather, it suggests that Ferrari’s two drivers may gradually begin converging toward solutions that maximize the potential of the car.
Ferrari urged to remain focused despite recent success
While Ferrari’s victory in Barcelona generated enormous excitement throughout the paddock, Guenther Steiner believes the team must avoid becoming complacent.
The former Haas boss cautioned against treating a single race victory as proof that Ferrari has completely solved all of its challenges. In his assessment, the progress is real, but it still needs to be confirmed consistently across multiple circuits and race weekends.
Guenther Steiner praised the direction being established under Fred Vasseur, noting that Ferrari appears increasingly united and focused on long-term development. However, he stressed that the most important objective should be maintaining momentum rather than becoming distracted by recent celebrations. According to Guenther Steiner, Ferrari’s current success should serve as motivation to continue pushing forward rather than an excuse to relax.
That message applies equally to both drivers. Lewis Hamilton will be eager to build upon his strongest run of form since joining Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc will be determined to recover from a difficult sequence of races and re-establish himself in the championship battle.
For Ferrari, the ideal scenario remains unchanged: having two drivers capable of fighting for victories and regularly challenging the front-runners.
If Lewis Hamilton continues to deliver at his current level and Charles Leclerc successfully turns recent frustrations into motivation, the Scuderia could become an even more formidable force during the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
And according to Guenther Steiner, Charles Leclerc’s willingness to embrace lessons from Lewis Hamilton’s recent success may ultimately help Ferrari achieve exactly that.
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