P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton’s F1 team-mate won’t help him adapt to Ferrari
Charles Leclerc discussed why Lewis Hamilton is finding it hard to adapt at Ferrari and why he cannot assist him as a teammate in Formula 1. Both drivers faced frustrations during the 2025 season with the SF-25 car, with Leclerc having a more positive season compared to the seven-time champion. Throughout the year, Leclerc outperformed Hamilton with seven podium finishes to Hamilton’s zero and a qualifying head-to-head record of 19-5 in favor of the Monegasque driver. Hamilton struggled not only with the car’s performance but also with internal team processes, including communication issues with his race engineer Riccardo Adami, leading to tense moments on team radio. While Leclerc expressed understanding for Hamilton’s challenges, he emphasized his focus on maximizing his own performance and team cooperation, acknowledging that assisting Hamilton would be challenging given the differences in their experiences and achievements. Leclerc highlighted the time required for a driver to adapt to a new team, noting that after eight years at Ferrari, he no longer remembers the challenges of joining a new team, while Hamilton continues to adjust to the team’s processes and dynamics even a year after his arrival.
