Szafnauer tells Ferrari to 'leave Leclerc alone' amid 2026 mid-season review

Former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has publicly urged Ferrari management to avoid any formal mid-season sit-down with Charles Leclerc, insisting the Scuderia should simply "leave him alone" as the Monegasque works through a challenging 2026 campaign alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Why it matters:

Ferrari is locked in a tight constructors' battle and needs both drivers firing on all cylinders to close the gap to Mercedes. Leclerc trailing Hamilton represents an unfamiliar psychological hurdle for the Monegasque, and Szafnauer's intervention underscores the risk that heavy-handed management could stall his recovery just as he begins to turn the corner.

The details:

• Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast with former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley, Szafnauer rejected the premise of a form review entirely. "Leave him alone. I would not have a conversation, but be supportive," he stated.
• Hamilton currently sits second in the drivers' championship with 169 points, having secured his first Ferrari win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and added four podium finishes.
• Leclerc holds fourth place on 138 points after winning at Silverstone, picking up three additional podiums, but suffering costly retirements in Monaco and Spain.
• Smedley echoed the sentiment, noting this is the first time in years Leclerc has faced a teammate with such a clear upper hand. He traced part of the early deficit to braking system component changes that left the Monegasque "slightly lost" despite his vast experience.

What's next:

Leclerc has shown encouraging signs of bridging the gap in recent races, suggesting his comfort level is returning. If Ferrari opts for a lighter touch rather than formal proceedings, the second half of the season could yet see a fully competitive intra-team battle that propels the Scuderia back into genuine championship contention.