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Charles Leclerc thoroughly smashed Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari teammate battle during the Briton’s first year in red, but David Croft predicts a much more difficult intra-team fight for the 28-year-old this year.
While expectations for Lewis Hamilton’s maiden season with Ferrari were at an all-time high ahead of his first race for the team, it was apparent that Charles Leclerc wouldn’t be an easy teammate to get one over on.
However, no one predicted the Ferrari teammate battle to be quite as one-sided as it turned out to be by the end of the campaign.
Hamilton only managed to beat Leclerc to the chequered flag three times in the Grand Prix format over the course of the year, and out-qualified him on just five separate occasions.
Over a full 24-race schedule, it’s quite the deficit. But now that the seven-time world champion has had some time to lend his hand in the development of the SF-26, things are looking a little bit more optimistic.
With a new era of regulations now upon us, Will Buxton believes Hamilton will start winning races again, and he isn’t alone in his assessment of the 41-year-old.
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David Croft issues a clear verdict on whether Lewis Hamilton can beat Charles Leclerc at Ferrari this year
During an appearance on Sky Sports News, F1 commentator David Croft was asked for his verdict on whether Hamilton will be able to get the better of Leclerc over the course of the upcoming campaign.
The Brit issued a clear verdict in response, replying, “Of course he is. On his day, Lewis is as good as any other top driver in Formula 1. He is the GOAT.
“He is the seven-time world champion and the most successful driver in the history of Formula 1. He’s not getting any younger, and he is up against a teammate who is impressive.
“But I think Lewis has hinted he feels more connected with these cars, more at home, has more of his DNA in this current Ferrari car. And as a result, I think he has better performances.
“He didn’t necessarily like the ground effect era of cars that we had from 22 to 25, and this year I think gives him a reset and an opportunity to go out and prove once again just how good he is.”
Hamilton’s newfound confidence in Ferrari’s machinery has been evident in pre-season testing, with Martin Brundle also tipping the seven-time world champion to have a ‘better year’ with the Scuderia this season.
While Leclerc certainly won’t be an easy opponent to get the better of, there is no doubt that a Hamilton in top form will have an answer to anything the Monegasque throws at him.
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F1 fans think Lewis Hamilton will actually win the championship this season
Hamilton’s pre-season with the Maranello-based outfit went so well that he is now being considered as the favourite for the majority of the F1 Oversteer’s users.
In a fan-voted poll, Hamilton garnered nearly one-third of all votes, with the reigning world champion, Lando Norris, being picked by just 4% of the poll’s active audience ahead of his title defence.
Of course, Hamilton’s reach transcends just Formula 1, and his fanbase is unmatched by every other F1 driver put together, but there is a genuine optimism behind the 41-year-old’s hunt for an eighth world title.
Norris himself is adamant that Hamilton will be one of the front-runners this year, and early forecasts of the F1 pecking order indicate that the tifosi will have a lot to celebrate in 2026.
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