Hamilton or Leclerc: Ferrari team-mate battle reveals clear verdict

Aside from the closing stages in Miami - where he spun, compromised his race and was later handed a 20-second penalty that cost him several positions - Leclerc has nevertheless enjoyed a very strong start to the 2026 season. The Ferrari driver has already secured two podium finishes in the opening four races and currently sits behind only the two Mercedes drivers in the championship standings.

Hamilton, meanwhile, has undoubtedly shown signs of improvement compared to last season and finally secured his long-awaited first podium with Ferrari in China. However, in recent races the Briton’s performances have generally fallen short of Leclerc’s level, although his weekend in Miami was partially affected by contact with Franco Colapinto, which caused damage and compromised his race.

Despite just eight points separating the two Ferrari team-mates at this stage of the season, a large majority of GPblog readers remain unconvinced that Hamilton still has what it takes to beat a driver of Leclerc’s calibre over the course of an entire championship. Around 62% of readers believe the seven-time world champion no longer has the consistency or pace required to come out on top against the Monegasque across a full season, while roughly half that number still believe Hamilton retains the potential to do so. The remaining 7% prefer to wait and see how the battle evolves over the coming races.

The topic quickly sparked debate among readers, with one user writing: “He is far off his best, but not completely useless. He also has the experience that comes with it - look what Bottas and Checo bring to Cadillac. I do think the ROI that comes with a driver like Lewis is the actual problem. He earns a huge salary and George and Charles are outperforming him, and Ollie will do a good enough job for the lower pay.”

Another reader, however, still believes in Hamilton, stating: “Ferrari signed him for the entire package: global brand uplift, sponsor pull, technical direction, media presence, team stability, and the fact he’s still performing at a top-tier level. He’s 5th in the championship, only 8 points behind Leclerc, and 33 points ahead of Verstappen. That’s not a driver who’s ‘far off his best’. That’s a driver who’s delivering results while also transforming Ferrari’s commercial and sporting profile.”

Ralf Schumacher has once again suggested that Hamilton should seriously consider retiring from Formula 1, arguing that the seven-time world champion is unlikely to consistently challenge Leclerc across an entire season. Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, the former F1 driver acknowledged Hamilton’s strong performances and praised the level he has managed to reach again this year, describing his resurgence as impressive despite his age and experience.

At the same time, Schumacher believes both Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are approaching the stage of their careers where younger drivers should begin taking over the top seats in Formula 1. According to the German, both veterans have already enjoyed extraordinary careers and achieved everything possible in the sport, making this the right moment for a generational transition.

Schumacher also pointed towards Oliver Bearman as a driver who deserves an opportunity at Ferrari in the near future. He suggested the young Briton could potentially prove highly competitive alongside Leclerc and even hinted that Bearman may eventually surprise many people with his level if given the chance to race for the Scuderia full-time.