Leclerc speaks about Hamilton in past tense and waters down impact at Ferrari

12:00, 17 Aug 2025

Updated: 10:08, 19 Aug 2025

byNorberto Mujica

Charles Leclerc has eased concerns that Ferrari could be swayed too heavily by Lewis Hamilton’s detailed technical feedback, insisting he is equally active in shaping the team’s development, whilst downplaying the Briton's initiative and speaking about him in the past tense.

Hamilton revealed he had sent multiple documents outlining changes he wants for Ferrari’s current car and the 2026 project, sparking speculation that Leclerc might be overshadowed in the process.

The Monegasque, though, dismissed the narrative, stressing that both drivers are involved in the decision-making process.

Leclerc made clear that Hamilton’s experience is respected, but his own feedback continues to carry weight inside Maranello.

George Russell and Charles Leclerc in Hungary

Leclerc: ‘We're aligned’

Leclerc was adamant that Ferrari remains united and that his collaboration with Hamilton has been productive.

“At the end of the day we are both pushing to try and make Ferrari better,” Leclerc told media including GPblog.

“He’s preparing his points, I’m preparing my points and then we are doing big meetings where we are both inside the meetings, and then we speak about those points that we want to improve.

"So, of course, we are aligned with everything together with the team, and everybody is pushing in the same direction so that there’s no stress whatsoever.”

'Lewis had an incredible career'

He went further, acknowledging Hamilton’s track record but rejecting the idea that anything has suddenly changed within Ferrari.

“Obviously it’s a unique point of view and Lewis had an incredible career, so these are things that we are looking closely. But it didn’t only start now.

"It starts from the first race where you have the first points where things are different and you’ve got to get used to and other things that you want to change and this is part of the process.

"I don’t think there’s anything standing out now. Maybe it’s the first time he said it, so that’s why it makes such a reaction, but it’s nothing particular to this moment," Leclerc concluded.