Charles Leclerc on Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): Notebook is bursting at the seams

Lewis Hamilton has rediscovered his old form in the 2026 Grand Prix season; he never quite got to grips with the winged cars from 2022 to the end of 2025, neither at Mercedes nor in his first season with Ferrari.

Over the past year, the Englishman has repeatedly emphasised how much he is committing himself to the world’s most famous Scuderia in order to get the Italians back on the winning track.

The most successful Formula 1 driver said: “I’ve sent off a few documents. I’ve been doing that all year. After the first few races, I put together a comprehensive dossier for the team. During the summer break, I submitted two further documents, which they then worked on.”

“Some suggestions are of a structural nature: adjustments we need to make as a team to improve in all areas. The other issue mainly centred on the car, the current problems I’m having with it, things we’d like to carry over to next year, and things we need to work on and change for next year.”

Although Ferrari missed its target for the 2026 season (to be in contention for the World Championship title), the progress is clear. In Mexico, Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate, also spoke about Hamilton’s influence at Ferrari.

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The nine-time Grand Prix winner says: “These 2026 cars are pushing Lewis and me to do things we’ve never done before in our careers. It’s a good thing for a driver’s versatility, because in a career you have to drive different cars; that’s helpful for your personal toolkit, as it means you can react better to new situations.”

“In 2026, we’ll be driving very differently to previous years. Sometimes that’s something I don’t particularly enjoy, but I think it will benefit me as a driver in the long run. Because it enriches my wealth of experience.”

“Lewis and I push each other; there are weekends when he’s just incredibly fast, and I learn a lot from him – by looking at his data and trying to understand how he works and how he handles the car.”

“There’s always something you can take away from a Grand Prix weekend. I’ve got my notebook full of entries – probably more notes than ever before since Lewis joined the team.”