Leclerc explains why he did not mirror Hamilton’s driving style at Ferrari
Charles Leclerc said he chose not to copy Lewis Hamilton’s driving style while Ferrari worked through the challenges of its 2026 Formula 1 car. Under the new regulations, Leclerc sometimes found it difficult to get the best from the SF-26 as Ferrari’s intra-team battle became more even.
Leclerc said he did not try to replicate Hamilton’s approach even when Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car was difficult to extract performance from. His comments came as Formula 1 began racing under new regulations this season.
Ferrari’s SF-26 has at times proved tricky for Leclerc, who said he refrained from adopting Hamilton’s driving style during those periods. Both reports frame this as part of the wider challenge of adapting to the team’s new car.
After Leclerc had clearly had the upper hand over Hamilton last year, the comparison between the Ferrari team-mates has become much closer in 2026.
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