Leclerc explains why he didn't copy Hamilton's style to fix Ferrari struggles

Charles Leclerc has explained why he didn't try to copy Lewis Hamilton's driving style while grappling with Ferrari's tricky SF-26. Instead of mimicking his teammate, the Monegasque focused on adapting the car to his own natural style—a decision that triggered his Silverstone breakthrough and first win since 2024.

Why it matters:

Leclerc's mid-season recovery is vital for Ferrari's title charge. After being outscored 64-16 by Hamilton during a nightmare stretch, Leclerc's ability to extract performance without abandoning his own approach could define the Scuderia's season and his rivalry with a seven-time champion.

The details:

• Leclerc struggled in Montreal, Monaco, and Barcelona, describing "something extremely difficult to deal with on the car" and crashing out of Q3 at his home race.
• He admitted the thought of copying Hamilton crossed his mind, but said reproducing a natural driving style is "very tricky" and "not as easy as, 'Oh, Lewis is doing that, I'll just do the same.'"
• Instead, he dug into the data. "I tried to push more into trying to find ways to have this car a bit more fitted to my driving style," he revealed.
• At Silverstone, he identified two or three issues on Friday night, made changes for Saturday, and the feeling returned. He qualified on the front row and dominated the British Grand Prix.
• A switch to Carbone Industrie brake discs is also believed to have contributed to his upturn.

The big picture:

Since Silverstone, Leclerc has scored 88 points across six rounds, third only to Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris. Hamilton has managed 66 in the same period. With the car now suiting his instincts, Leclerc says the key is to "not overthink" and trust the feeling—a mindset that could make Ferrari a genuine threat in the closing rounds.