Ferrari Drivers Leclerc and Hamilton Relationship Reportedly Under Strain
Reports indicate potential fissures in the partnership between Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The 2025 Formula 1 (F1) season has presented challenges for the Scuderia, with Hamilton’s sprint race victory in China serving as their most significant achievement amidst their current fourth-place position in the constructors’ championship standings.
Leclerc Outperforms Hamilton in Japan
Leclerc’s fourth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix represented the team’s best individual race result thus far, elevating him to sixth position in the driver standings. His British teammate, Hamilton, currently trails him by two places, as his aspirations for a record-breaking eighth F1 world championship begin to diminish. Team engineers are reportedly diligently working to improve Hamilton’s performance and are evaluating potential upgrades to the floor of their SF-25 vehicles.
Leclerc Expresses Frustration to Ferrari Management
However, Leclerc is reportedly growing impatient with the level of focus directed towards the veteran F1 icon. Sources suggest that the Monegasque driver has communicated his sentiments to senior team personnel ahead of the upcoming race weekend in Bahrain.
According to reports from Corriele dello Sport, Leclerc allegedly informed team principal Fred Vasseur, stating, “Enough, I’m going my own way.” This follows allegations that Vasseur and other team leaders have been meticulously considering “every word” of feedback provided by Hamilton.
Divergent Visions Emerge Ahead of Bahrain
Following the Suzuka race, Leclerc conveyed his discontent in post-race interviews, stating, “I’m going to Sakhir with a different vision of the tests. I have a very clear direction that I want to take for what my driving style is, and I hope it pays off.” This suggests a divergence in car development direction between the two drivers.
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Echoes of Past Driver Rivalries
The division of a garage between two drivers is a recurring dynamic in F1. This situation bears a resemblance to the nascent stages of Hamilton‘s well-known partnership with Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, where both drivers experienced significant friction as they competed for dominance.
Hamilton Acknowledges Performance Deficit
After struggling to a seventh-place finish in Japan, Hamilton raised eyebrows with his post-race remarks concerning the current car performance, saying: “I did the best I could today. I was generally lacking performance compared to the cars ahead of me, especially Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren.”
“My pace was maximum today. I didn’t have anything else in the car. Underperformance is happening at the rear of the car this weekend, and obviously, qualifying position is key. I’m hoping that in the next race, we will be closer,” Hamilton concluded, highlighting concerns about the car’s current capabilities and expressing hope for improvement in subsequent races.
