Former Ferrari Formula 1 engineer Jock Clear believes Charles Leclerc will be even more motivated by his on-track battles with Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton’s introduction to Ferrari hasn’t been smooth sailing. Joining the Maranello team in 2025, Hamilton struggled to find his feet, looking dejected throughout the season and at times even saying that the team deserved a driver better than himself.
However, the seven-time World Champion seemed far more comfortable in 2026. With new regulations and a say in the team direction, Hamilton closed the teammate head-to-head, took his first victory in red and currently leads Leclerc by 12 points in the standings.
The season hasn’t been without its conflicts. During the Mexico City Grand Prix, the tensions reached a boiling point after Leclerc made a move on Hamilton for the lead in the opening corners and the duo ran off the road. The Brit was vocal on the radio and after the race that he didn’t agree with the move.
The team met in Brazil to clear the air, with all parties saying the issues were resolved and they were committed to moving on.
Leclerc will ‘redouble and keep improving’
Clear spoke to PlanetF1.com about the dynamic, with a unique perspective from having worked with both drivers. He held a role as a Mercedes performance engineer in 2013/2014 before moving on to a role as Leclerc’s driver coach at Ferrari.
Clear gave his insight on the tension and the battle, believing that the fight would push Leclerc to fight harder. He also expressed his joy for the team and the work that’s been put in to get both drivers in the position to fight as they have this season.
“I think Lewis is much more comfortable with the feedback he’s getting from this car [in 2026].” He said.
“That’s a testament to the whole team, and they have shown they can challenge with either driver. That is a great position to be in.
“I think there is more to come from Lewis and, in turn, Charles will redouble his efforts and keep improving.”
Clear also pointed out that no one wanted to see one driver dominating in the team, but rather the two going head-to-head and pushing each other to be better.
“This is exactly the dynamic we wanted from Lewis arriving.
“Charles is not one to shirk a challenge!”
The Ferrari direction
Clear said Ferrari are in a good place despite speculation that team principal Fred Vasseur may not be retained. Ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner is named as a potential replacement.
He confessed it’s hard to comment on Horner’s leadership, having never worked with him. He said: “I have never worked with Christian, so it’s difficult to say if his leadership style would suit Ferrari.
“But certainly his wealth of knowledge and proven track record suggest he knows what it takes to win.
“[Can I see Horner] at Ferrari? I think Ferrari are actually in quite a good place right now.
“They have two drivers who can deliver at the very front and whilst we are all desperate for silverware, their season has been a good step forward from last, and I’m excited to see where they will be next year.”
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