Lewis Hamilton’s latest ‘enormous’ Charles Leclerc comments give Ferrari a new headache for the 2026 F1 season

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Ferrari climbed back up to second in the constructors’ championship after the Austrian Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had one of their most successful races of the 2025 Formula 1 season, albeit with a little bit of help.

Mercedes found the conditions at the Austrian Grand Prix nearly impossible to deal with as George Russell finished a minute behind the winner, Lando Norris.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli took out Red Bull star Max Verstappen on the opening lap, who had also been compromised in qualifying by a yellow flag brought out by Pierre Gasly.

Pressure continues to grow on Yuki Tsunoda as he once again failed to challenge the drivers at the front of the pack, leaving the Ferrari pair free to run their own races and finish third and fourth.

Hamilton wasn’t happy with Ferrari’s decision to pit him for a second time when they did as he tried to chase down Leclerc.

However, in the absence of team principal Fred Vasseur, the Scuderia wanted the most straightforward race possible to improve their position in the constructors’ championship.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s driving styles give Ferrari a 2026 headache

Ferrari are very unlikely to challenge for either championship this season, and so focus will soon turn to 2026.

Next year’s Formula 1 regulations will see a complete shift away from the current cars, and Ferrari have already shifted their focus in the wind tunnel to next season’s machine.

However, comments made to Motorsport after the race at the Austrian Grand Prix suggest that Leclerc and Hamilton might want different things out of the successor to the SF-25.

Speaking after the race, Leclerc said: “Our weekend at a team level was very positive.

“We brought some updates that helped us make a step forward and start closing the gap to McLaren.

“Unfortunately, today they were simply faster. At the first corner, I tried to close on Lando, but in doing so, I left the door open for Oscar to overtake me.

“I pushed a lot in the first stint and had quite a bit of degradation, but that’s part of the game. We have no regrets.”

Hamilton was also pleased after the race and, at times, was driving at the same speed as the Monegasque driver.

The seven-time world champion is now ‘going his own way’ with his car set-up, as he doesn’t have a similar driving style to his new teammate.

Hamilton admitted that Leclerc ‘drives with enormous oversteer’, and is instead trying to get the SF-25 to function under his preferred conditions.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Paddock whispers emerge about Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car

Hamilton will hope that after his first full season with Ferrari that the team have learned more about what he wants from a car to maximise his potential.

However, if he’s uncomfortable with the amount of oversteer that Leclerc requires, then that poses a conundrum for Ferrari.

Vasseur will want Ferrari technical director Loic Serra to find a way to build a car that suits both of his drivers.

Whispers are beginning to emerge about Ferrari’s 2026 F1 car, although Leclerc was unimpressed with next season’s new regulations when he jumped in the team’s simulator in the build-up to the race in Austria.

Team principals ideally want the two quickest drivers possible, but also two drivers who want the same things from their cars.

Red Bull have faced this problem for years with Max Verstappen and his various teammates, and Ferrari will hope they’re not about to have to deal with the same issue with Leclerc and Hamilton.