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Lewis Hamilton emerging as a possible title contender after his first Grand Prix win for Ferrari in Barcelona has seen some say he should now be backed over Charles Leclerc.
In his 31st race in red, Hamilton utilised a three-stop strategy to storm to glory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last time out. The victory also meant the 41-year-old continued his recent purple patch, having taken P2 finishes in Canada and Monaco in the previous rounds.
Now, Hamilton sits second in the 2026 F1 drivers’ standings with a deficit of just 41 points to Mercedes star Andrea Kimi Antonelli in first place through seven rounds. Leclerc, in contrast, trails the 19-year-old by 81 points, as he only holds 75 to Antonelli’s 156 and Hamilton’s 115.
Lewis Hamilton is now only missing a Grand Prix pole position for Ferrari 🏆 Predict when it will come?
Fred Vasseur does not want to ‘compromise’ Charles Leclerc by favouring Lewis Hamilton
So, pundits like Jolyon Palmer think Ferrari could back Hamilton in the 2026 F1 title fight, as favouring the seven-time champion’s bid for a record-breaking eighth crown would give him a “critical” advantage over Mercedes’ Antonelli and George Russell, but at Leclerc’s expense.
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Riccardo Ceccarelli, who has worked with Leclerc as a mental coach since the Monegasque was only 11, believes Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur does not want to make Hamilton (or Leclerc) the number one in Maranello, though. Instead, he wants to treat them equally.
Ceccarelli told Motorsport.com: “Lewis is in amazing form, and perhaps adapts better to this red car than Charles.
“The seven-time world champion has rediscovered his motivation because he has a car that meets his expectations. When you win, obviously you don’t want to waste your potential. But Fred doesn’t want to compromise Charles’ potential, either.
“The Frenchman doesn’t have to make decisions right away, he can wait. He’ll try to go with the flow, removing only the obstacles, in keeping with the philosophy of those who work at Ferrari. There won’t be a first and second driver in the red car.
“Vasseur will have to wait and see how things unfold, especially since Leclerc could wake up and snatch three consecutive results without warning.”
Fred Vasseur refuses to use team orders at Ferrari – Is he wrong?
After watching Hamilton and Leclerc battle during the F1 Sprint and Grand Prix in China back in March, Vasseur stated that he “would be damned if I were to even consider team orders”. But the idea is back on the table now that Hamilton may have a sniff at taking the 2026 title.
It is still too early in the season for Vasseur to step in and make Hamilton or Leclerc the No1 at Ferrari, though. There are still 15 rounds to play, and Ferrari’s planned engine upgrade for the Austrian Grand Prix next time out may help to also bring Leclerc into play for the crown.
Ferrari’s engine is the SF-26’s greatest weakness compared to Mercedes’ W17, which the Brackley bunch can even upgrade after the FIA ruled that Red Bull built the best ICE. Should Ferrari’s upgrade give Hamilton and Leclerc a chance, Vasseur would rue using team orders.
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