Leclerc: Hamilton Brings a ‘Very Different’ Work Approach to Ferrari

Charles Leclerc reveals how Lewis Hamilton’s unique working style is reshaping Ferrari’s internal processes and inspiring change across the team.

Leclerc says Lewis Hamilton’s arrival has already sparked changes behind the scenes at Ferrari, even if the results aren’t showing yet.

Hamilton, one of Formula 1’s biggest stars, hasn’t been able to transform Ferrari’s fortunes right away. Leclerc himself has struggled with the SF-25 this season, falling behind the likes of McLaren’s drivers, Max Verstappen, and even George Russell.

Still, Leclerc sees Hamilton’s influence making a difference internally, bringing a fresh perspective — keeping what works, and discarding what doesn’t.

“That’s why it’s so interesting to have Lewis join the team after his ten years at Mercedes,” Leclerc said.
“He brings a very different way of working compared to what we’re used to at Ferrari.

“That doesn’t mean we’ll take everything on board — there’s good and bad — but it’s opened our minds. Lewis came in and shared his views and opinions on a lot of situations.”

Leclerc acknowledged that different approaches are normal across the paddock but stressed that having new input is helping Ferrari grow.

So far, the highlight of Ferrari’s season has been Hamilton’s win in the Sprint Race at the Chinese Grand Prix — a rare bright moment in an otherwise tough start to the year.

Leclerc admitted it was bittersweet seeing his new teammate win first, even if it was “just” a Sprint.

“It’s a mix of emotions. You’re happy because it shows the team’s potential,” he said.
“But of course, part of you is frustrated — you want to be the one standing on the top step.”

“It motivated me to push harder in qualifying and to work on the car setup to turn things around.”

Leclerc also described the SF-25’s development as “extreme” — even for him, despite this being his seventh season at Ferrari. However, he played down suggestions that adapting driving style to the car was a major issue — a subtle jab at Hamilton?

“I see a lot of talk about driving style and how important it is. Honestly, we have enough freedom in setup to adjust the car to what we need,” Leclerc said. “It’s not a big deal.”

Interestingly, Leclerc also pointed out how similar he and Hamilton are when it comes to one key aspect of driving.

“It’s always better when teammates are pushing in the same direction because we want the same things from the car,” he said.
“I was really surprised how similar Lewis and I are when it comes to corner entry.
We’re both pretty aggressive, which means we’re asking for the same characteristics from the car.”

Another factor behind Hamilton’s slow adaptation to Ferrari could be a unique clause from his Mercedes contract.

Reportedly, the deal Hamilton broke to join Ferrari included a condition preventing him — or Ferrari — from contacting any Mercedes personnel for a year.
This isolation has left Hamilton without the support network he had at Mercedes, forcing him to build new relationships from scratch within Ferrari.

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Leclerc: Hamilton Brings a ‘Very Different’ Work Approach to Ferrari
Leclerc: Hamilton Brings a ‘Very Different’ Work Approach to Ferrari