Arnoux: Leclerc's 'primary' weakness is mental after hitting 'rock bottom'

René Arnoux believes Charles Leclerc's struggles run deeper than car setup, diagnosing his repeated errors as a "primarily mental" issue. The seven-time Grand Prix winner told La Gazzetta dello Sport that Leclerc has hit "rock bottom" after a brutal stretch of mistakes in 2026.

Why it matters:

Leclerc entered the year as Ferrari's title hope, but his campaign is unraveling at a critical moment. With Lewis Hamilton riding three consecutive podiums—including an emotional Barcelona victory—the psychological pressure at Maranello has shifted. If Leclerc cannot steady his mindset, Ferrari risks wasting competitive machinery while Hamilton seizes control of the team hierarchy.

The details:

• Leclerc's errors include spinning from a podium spot in Miami, crashing in Monaco while third, and destroying a qualifying lap in Barcelona by applying the power too early.
• He also hit the wall in Monaco qualifying and lacked pace in Canada, compounding a costly season.
• Brake concerns: After criticizing his Brembo brakes, Leclerc has switched to Hamilton's setup in search of confidence.
• Hamilton's surge: While Leclerc faltered, Hamilton delivered a home Barcelona win and a string of strong results, intensifying the intra-team fight.

What's next:

Leclerc needs an immediate reset. Adopting Hamilton's brake configuration could help, but Arnoux suggests the real fix must come from within the cockpit. The SF-26 has the pace—Leclerc has often outqualified Hamilton—but converting that speed into clean weekends is the only way to stop a season sliding toward crisis.