Charles Leclerc does not believe Ferrari will have to choose between him and Lewis Hamilton, and refutes the theory of internal driving style conflict
Charles Leclerc is not worried that Ferrari will develop a car in the medium to long term that is tailored to superstar Lewis Hamilton and could be to his disadvantage: “I don’t think that’s a problem. I just want the fastest car for next year. And I think that’s exactly what Lewis wants too.”
Leclerc considers the theory, which according to him is only “talked about a lot outside the team,” that the Ferrari can only work for either Leclerc or Hamilton due to different driving styles, to be wrong: “Wherever we are next year, I will set up the car the way I like it, and Lewis will do the same. I’m really not worried about that.”
“I think we are now at a point in Formula 1 where the engineers and the level of technology are so advanced that we just need the fastest car. We put the fastest car on the track and then we have complete freedom. It’s not like it was ten or 15 years ago, when you were pushed into a corner with the setup and had no means of making the car faster. Now we have those resources. That’s why I’m definitely not worried.”
The fact is, however, that Hamilton is currently struggling with the Ferrari. He repeatedly complains that he hasn’t quite got to grips with it yet, whether it’s the unfamiliar behavior of the engine brake or the sometimes bumpy communication with his race engineer on the pit radio.
Yet the difference in the drivers’ championship is not that big: Leclerc is in fifth place with 104 points, Hamilton is sixth with 79 points. And in the constructors’ championship, Ferrari is in third place, just behind Mercedes and ahead of Red Bull.
George Russell, Hamilton’s long-time teammate at Mercedes, is “not sure” why things aren’t working out for Hamilton at Ferrari yet. But one thing is clear: “Charles is a great driver. And this team is Charles’ team. He was integrated into this team as Ferrari’s golden boy from the very beginning.“ Which is probably why he doesn’t have to worry too much about his standing, not even alongside Hamilton.
It was different for Russell. When he joined Mercedes, the team was new to him, and Hamilton was the ”golden boy” around whom everything was built. Now Hamilton is feeling how challenging it can be to be the new guy in established structures: “It’s not easy to join a new team,” says Russell. “Especially when the culture is so different from what he’s used to.”
