Ferrari clearly told 'Leclerc is the No.1 driver, while Hamilton is No.2'

Signed as the blockbuster move meant to bring experience, star power and, ultimately, the world title back to Maranello after nearly two decades without success, the partnership between the seven-time world champion and Ferrari has so far failed to deliver the expected results. Rather than overshadowing the Monegasque driver, it has instead highlighted even further the undeniable talent behind the wheel that Leclerc has been recognised for ever since his early years in Formula 1.

Last year, in his first season with Ferrari, Hamilton failed to secure a single win, podium or pole position in what was an unlucky and generally uncompetitive campaign for the team. Leclerc, however, still managed to take seven podium finishes and a stunning surprise pole position in Hungary.

Even this year, despite a clearly stronger start to the season and already having secured a podium finish, the Monegasque driver has continued to deliver the goods. The only real exception came in the most recent race in Miami, where a mistake on the final lap compromised his result and saw him finish behind his teammate, who had been carrying damage on his SF-26 for almost the entire race distance.

Speaking on the Pelas Pistas podcast, the son of the three-time Brazilian world champion claimed Ferrari currently have a clear pecking order within the team, with Leclerc firmly established as the leading driver: "Leclerc is the No.1 driver, while Hamilton is No.2. Right now, Hamilton finishes behind him in about 80 per cent of the races."

Piquet Jr also suggested the seven-time world champion is now entering the final phase of his Formula 1 career after spending two decades in the sport: "Hamilton has spent twenty years in Formula 1, and this is naturally the winding down of his career."

The former Haas team principal believes Hamilton’s decision on when to retire from Formula 1 will depend entirely on whether he still sees a realistic chance of winning an unprecedented eighth world championship with Ferrari. According to Steiner, the seven-time world champion has already achieved everything there is to achieve in the sport and no longer needs to prove his value to fans, critics or rivals.

Instead, he feels Hamilton’s motivation now comes from a personal desire to show that he can still compete at the very highest level despite his age and the increasing competition from a younger generation of drivers. The Italian also suggested that, as long as Hamilton continues to believe another title is possible, the Briton is unlikely to walk away from Formula 1 anytime soon.

At the same time, Steiner admitted there could come a point where Hamilton accepts that Ferrari are unable to deliver the championship-winning car he is searching for. If that moment arrives, Steiner believes the Brit could decide that the time has come to bring his legendary Formula 1 career to an end, potentially opening the door for rising Ferrari driver Oliver Bearman in the future.

Despite clearly having had the upper hand so far, the Monegasque driver still acknowledged the greatness of his teammate and the extraordinary career Hamilton has built over the years. The seven-time world champion rewrote the Formula 1 record books by breaking the 100-win and 100-pole barriers, while also coming agonisingly close to securing an eighth world title in Abu Dhabi back in 2021.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Leclerc admitted Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has given him a valuable opportunity to learn from one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport. The Ferrari driver explained that he has carefully studied every aspect of Hamilton’s approach, from his preparation away from the track to the way he works once inside the car.