Charles Leclerc has shared that he has already learned a lot from Lewis Hamilton during their time as teammates together at Ferrari. The Monegasque explained that his teammate has a “precise” method of working, which has opened his mind to new ideas.
Hamilton first joined Scuderia Ferrari in 2025, joining a setup that was previously considered to be Leclerc’s team. The Briton struggled to get up to pace immediately at Maranello, as Leclerc beat him in the drivers’ standings, finishing fourth while Hamilton finished fifth, a massive 86 points behind.
Things have been a lot closer in the first five rounds of the 2026 season, with Hamilton looking more comfortable at Ferrari and also happier with the new generation of cars. The 7x world champion has beaten Leclerc in three of the races so far this year.
All in all, the competition within the Italian team seems to be close between the two drivers. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Leclerc was full of praise for his teammate, outlining that he has learned a lot from him. When asked what both drivers had learned from each other, the 28-year-old replied:
“Him from me? I really don’t know (laughs). But I know what he has taught me, a lot. A driver who has won as much as Lewis has a very precise working method, one that in some ways has opened my mind.”
“I’ve been very fortunate in my career: I’ve had incredibly talented teammates, and each of them has given me something and allowed me to grow,” he added.
As things stand, Charles Leclerc sits third in the drivers’ standings this year, with Lewis Hamilton just behind in fourth and only three points adrift. Next up is Leclerc’s home race around the streets of Monaco as he aims to claim a second win in the Principality.
Charles Leclerc eyeing up Monaco GP win to break Ferrari’s win drought
Charles Leclerc said that he hopes he can win a race with Ferrari in the 2026 F1 season, adding that he will try to do so at the upcoming Monaco GP. The driver also said that “anything can happen” in Monaco, as the Prancing Horses look to secure their first victory since the 2024 Mexican GP.
When asked if the drought will end in 2026 during the aforementioned interview, Leclerc immediately turned his attention to Monaco, saying:
“I hope soon, the team is really working well. Monaco is always a special track, where anything can happen. The year is still long, though.”
Leclerc also shared that he believes the world championship is still up for grabs in 2026, explaining that the beginning of a new regulations cycle always allows for steep development curves for teams. He added that the season can still go in any direction and that Mercedes can be caught, even though the German team looks unbeatable at the moment.
