Jock Clear: Leclerc will 'redouble' efforts as Hamilton fight intensifies

Former Ferrari engineer Jock Clear says Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 resurgence will push Charles Leclerc to “redouble his efforts,” calling their tense intra-team battle exactly the dynamic Ferrari wanted.

Why it matters:

Hamilton leads Leclerc by 12 points with three races left. Their scrap boiled over in Mexico when Leclerc was penalised for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage; Hamilton accused him of racing teammates more aggressively than others. Clear says Leclerc “is not one to shirk a challenge.”

The details:

• Clear worked with both drivers: Hamilton’s performance engineer at Mercedes in 2013/14, then a close driver coach to Leclerc at Ferrari.
• He sees Hamilton as more comfortable with the 2026 car and believes there is “more to come” from him.
• That should force Leclerc to keep improving. “This is exactly the dynamic we wanted,” Clear told PlanetF1.com.
• Hamilton won his first Ferrari race in Barcelona; Leclerc responded at Silverstone.

Between the lines:

Clear, who left Ferrari last year, insists the team is “in quite a good place” despite speculation over Fred Vasseur’s future. He says Ferrari have two drivers who can deliver at the front and has been encouraged by their 2026 step forward.

What’s next:

With three rounds left, Hamilton’s 12-point cushion gives him the edge — but Leclerc’s response could decide how Ferrari’s season ends.