Charles Leclerc doesn’t believe there has a been a ‘shift’ in favour of Lewis Hamilton’s side of the Ferrari garage despite a recent Formula 1 performance deficit.
Without question, Hamilton has taken the mantle of top-performing driver at Ferrari in the 2026 season. Leclerc comfortably outperformed the seven-time world champion last season, but has fallen behind by 46 points in the Drivers’ Standings.
Leclerc, who recently signed a multi-year contract extension, rejected the idea that Ferrari have shifted their favour towards his teammate, regardless of the clear difference in performance on track. Speaking to the media ahead of the British Grand Prix, he said that he is focused on his own side.
“No, I don’t think there’s been a particular shift in the garage,” he told media, including Motorsport Week, at Silverstone.
“A performance swing can happen. Last year it was one way, this year it’s another way. As a driver, you just focus on your side. But Ferrari has always been family for me.”
‘Team comes first,’ Leclerc says on potential team orders
As Hamilton solidifies himself as a challenger for the Driver’s Championship, the conversation of team orders was bound to emerge. But Leclerc doesn’t seem concerned, putting it down as something to think about later in the season as he focuses on bringing his own performance back.
“We’ll see how it is at the end of the season. No matter the situation I find myself in, of course, teams come first. But I don’t really want to think about it as of now.
“I’ve got a lot to think about with my own performance at the moment, and that’s where my focus is. Then we will see later on.”
The Monegasque has as many podiums in 2026 as he has DNFs – the two DNF results being equally bitter. In front of his home crowd in Monaco, and in Barcelona as Hamilton took his first win in red.
Hamilton more at ease within the team than last season
Still, Leclerc says he hasn’t noticed any changes his team or teammate have made to improve the Brit’s position within the team. Hamilton struggled to get to grips with both the Ferrari team and car in 2025, but Leclerc credits his settling into the team as a reason for his improved performance.
“Lewis is more at ease with the team, and that always helps.
“The first year you arrive in a team, we don’t necessarily know which person you need to speak to for that particular subject. That is not really something anymore. He knows most of the people in the team, and is as much at ease as I am.
“But in terms of process, we are improving, and we are changing things, but I wouldn’t say anything different to the approach we’ve had in the past. You always look at your weaknesses as a team and try to improve them, and that’s what we are doing.”
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