Szafnauer Tells Ferrari to Leave Leclerc Alone Amid Hamilton Fight

Former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has advised Ferrari management against calling Charles Leclerc in for a formal mid-season sit-down, insisting the Maranello outfit should "leave him alone" as he works through a challenging period alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast alongside former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley and host Jake Humphrey, Szafnauer offered his insights during a mid-season review of the 2026 championship. Ferrari entered the break second in the constructors' standings on 307 points, trailing leader Mercedes by 72.

Hamilton sits second in the drivers' standings with 169 points after securing his first victory with the team at Barcelona and four podiums. Meanwhile, Leclerc is fourth with 138 points after a win at Silverstone, three podiums, and two retirements in Monaco and Spain.

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When asked how a team principal should conduct a mid-season conversation to address Leclerc's form, Szafnauer strongly rejected the idea of an intervention. "No, leave him alone. I would not have a conversation, but be supportive," he said.

Szafnauer added, "Lewis at the beginning of the year, and I'm not speaking from facts, just the feeling I get, was a little bit more ahead of Leclerc than he is now. I think Charles has stepped it up in the last two a little bit towards Lewis."

Smedley echoed those sentiments, noting that facing an intra-team deficit was a rare experience for the Monegasque. "This is the first time in a long time where Charles's team-mate has had a significant upper hand. Charles wasn't happy with the car. They changed components around the braking system, but it felt like he was just slightly lost for a driver of his experience," he explained.

With internal dynamics heating up, Ferrari's choice to support Leclerc without over-intervention could be key to maintaining team balance. Can Leclerc close the gap to Hamilton in the second half?