The driver dynamics have shifted at Ferrari in recent race weekends thanks to Lewis Hamilton’s return to form with the Scuderia, and Ralf Schumacher is under the impression that it is exactly what Charles Leclerc ‘needs’ at the team.
The Monegasque driver has been Ferrari’s leading driver since the first day he set foot in Maranello after joining the team in 2019. Despite partnering with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, he has always been held in high regard at Maranello.
What are your thoughts on Charles Leclerc signing a new Ferrari contract?
The addition of a globally recognised superstar and elite-level driver in Lewis Hamilton threatened that upon his arrival at the start of last year, but the Briton’s results simply didn’t live up to expectations during his debut campaign in red.
Fast forward 12 months, however, and Hamilton has finally found his feet at Maranello. He’s producing strong results, and Charles Leclerc is no longer a sure bet to be ahead of the 41-year-old in every upcoming Grand Prix.
Ralf Schumacher says Charles Leclerc ‘always needs’ a competitive teammate
Hamilton now leads Leclerc three to two in the Ferrari teammate battle for Grand Prix finishes this season.
His latest performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished 34 seconds ahead of his teammate, showcased a new-look Hamilton that Ralf Schumacher strongly believes could force Leclerc into even more mistakes this year.
Which driver would you rather have RIGHT NOW: Charles Leclerc or Kimi Antonelli?
Will have to delete these comments when he finishes well behind Russell at the end of the year 😂
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Speaking via the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher was asked whether he thinks Leclerc could still return to his perch as Ferrari’s clear number one driver, or if Hamilton is here to stay.
“Well, that depends a bit,” he replied. “Lewis Hamilton was strong, though he wasn’t so good in the race before. But Canada suits him too, that’s true, just like China, that’s one of his favourite tracks as well.
“Now the question is, can he put that into practice on the track in Monaco as well? And above all, is he as happy with the car as he was? If not, can he make the components work somehow?
“I think both Ferraris will be strong [at Monaco], which would also be important for Ferrari, because one thing is clear: Charles Leclerc always needs a teammate who challenges him a bit. It naturally makes you feel uneasy.”
“If Lewis Hamilton were to get too close now and pile on too much pressure, mistakes could naturally happen. Above all, it’s been like this consistently now. Leclerc was able to live with the compromise quite well in Miami, but then he made mistakes, too.
“For Hamilton, it was a disaster. Now it’s the other way round. So the question is, is it really down to the team, who aren’t able to set up the car properly in some cases, or is it down to the driver, who isn’t willing to compromise enough? That’s the question.”
