Charles Leclerc wants to beat Lewis Hamilton, but even on his strongest weekends, he finds something worth learning from the other side of Ferrari’s garage.
Charles Leclerc wants to beat Lewis Hamilton. He also wants to understand what makes him quick. At Ferrari, those ambitions fit comfortably together.
Leclerc says he studies his teammate’s data and approach even after weekends when he feels he has driven well. There is still something worth taking away, and he makes a point of writing it down.
“I’ve got my notebook with a lot of notes and probably more notes than ever since Lewis joined the team.”
It’s a small detail that tells us something the finishing order cannot. We usually judge teammates by who qualified ahead or scored more points. Leclerc’s notebook captures another part of that relationship: how competing against someone can help you improve.
Learning after a good weekend
Hamilton’s strongest performances give Leclerc plenty to study. But the more revealing part is that Leclerc keeps looking when his own performance has been strong, too.
He describes examining how Hamilton works and handles the car. A good result doesn’t mean there is nothing left to understand.
That is a familiar challenge beyond racing. When something goes badly, looking for answers comes naturally. When it goes well, it is easier to move on. Leclerc’s approach leaves room for the possibility that someone else found a better way through part of the same task.
New cars, more to learn
The 2026 cars have added to that process. Leclerc says they demand unfamiliar driving techniques, some of which he doesn’t particularly enjoy. Nevertheless, he believes adapting to them will make him a more versatile driver over time.
That gives the exchanges within Ferrari’s garage another purpose. Both drivers are navigating new demands while providing a reference for each other.
None of this tells us exactly what Leclerc has written down or how much lap time those lessons might eventually produce. It does offer a useful reminder about elite competition: being confident in your own ability leaves plenty of room to recognize someone else’s.
Hamilton is a driver Leclerc wants to finish ahead of. He is also someone worth studying before the next opportunity to do it.
