Leclerc Faces Growing Pressure as Hamilton Sets Ferrari Benchmark

Charles Leclerc is facing increasing scrutiny during the 2026 Formula 1 season after a RacingNews365 poll revealed that a large majority of voters believe he must start delivering results comparable to teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The poll showed that 69.1 percent of respondents believe Leclerc needs to eliminate costly mistakes and begin consistently matching or beating Hamilton's performances. Only 30.9 percent felt that the Monégasque driver is not under pressure and that his situation remains under control.

The contrast between Ferrari's two drivers has become increasingly evident this season. Hamilton currently sits second in the drivers' standings on 115 points and has already secured his maiden victory for Ferrari in Barcelona. Leclerc, meanwhile, occupies fourth place and trails the seven-time world champion by 40 points.

Baca JugaLeclerc Hadapi Tekanan Besar Setelah Tertinggal dari Hamilton

A series of costly mistakes has contributed significantly to that gap. Leclerc has suffered two retirements in the two races leading into the summer stretch, while earlier setbacks included a last-lap spin from a podium position in Miami and a qualifying crash at his home event in Monaco.

Barcelona proved particularly painful. An oversteer moment during Q3 sent Leclerc into the barriers, leaving him to start from 10th on the grid before another retirement compounded the disappointment on race day.

"I knew it was a weakness. I knew I had to make everything perfect for that lap. And I tried, but I obviously regret it."

Supporters of Leclerc continue to point to his podium finishes in Australia and Japan, as well as what many consider a performance advantage over Hamilton in sprint events. Those results suggest that the raw speed remains present despite the recent setbacks.

However, the broader trend remains concerning. With Hamilton demonstrating that the SF-26 is capable of winning races, attention on Leclerc's side of the Ferrari garage is only expected to intensify. The second half of the 2026 season may now prove decisive in determining whether he can re-establish himself as Ferrari's leading championship contender.