Charles Leclerc has opened up about his decision not to emulate Lewis Hamilton's driving style when struggling to extract the maximum from Ferrari's SF-26 under Formula 1's new 2026 regulations.
The new era of F1 has presented unique challenges, and Leclerc found himself grappling with the SF-26. After outperforming Hamilton last year, their head-to-head has been much more balanced in 2026. Leclerc struggled particularly in Canada, Monaco, and Barcelona, scoring just 16 points compared to Hamilton's 64 during that stretch.
Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Leclerc described "something that was extremely difficult to deal with on the car" during his toughest period. This was compounded by a puzzling crash at his home race in Monaco, which he attributed to brake supplier Brembo.
"When things don't go well, like in Montreal and Monaco, it's not only about the results," Leclerc said. "What's important for me is that when I get into the car, I get the right feeling and I know I can do my job properly by driving naturally and not overthinking things."
Leclerc acknowledged that when two consecutive races are tough, there are two options: find a setup solution to suit your natural style, or change your driving style. However, copying Hamilton's approach wasn't a viable option. "I have Lewis as a team-mate, who was in incredible form. I knew his driving style was working. But trying to reproduce a driving style is not as easy as it sounds. Lewis is an incredibly talented driver with a natural style that is his, and he's the best in the world at it," Leclerc explained.
Despite the challenges, Leclerc remains focused on his own natural feel. "Barcelona was better. In qualifying, I have no excuses—that was just me pushing too hard. But the feeling was there. When the feeling is there, you are more confident as a driver," he added.
With the season still long, Leclerc is determined to bounce back and deliver his best for Ferrari. The intra-team battle with Hamilton is expected to intensify, especially in the upcoming European races.
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