How Charles Leclerc’s mood ‘behind the scenes’ at Ferrari has changed since Lewis Hamilton’s arrival

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Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc matched his best result of the season at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

A Grand Prix victory still eludes Ferrari this season, and the team are running out of time for one of their drivers to stand on the top step of the podium.

Charles Leclerc secured his and Ferrari’s seventh top-three Grand Prix finish of the season at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton think Leclerc got lucky that he wasn’t penalised for cutting the corner at the opening chicane on the first lap of the race.

Lewis Hamilton should have been second behind Lando Norris after a strong start, but Leclerc got away with diving onto the grass to avoid contact with his teammate.

Fans couldn’t believe Hamilton was penalised and Verstappen and Leclerc avoided punishment, with rookie Oliver Bearman the biggest beneficiary, matching Haas’ best-ever result in Formula 1 to finish fourth.

Leclerc has been left frustrated by Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness this season and sits fifth in the drivers’ championship.

Sky Sports F1 presenter Simon Lazenby and analyst Bernie Collins were discussing the Monegasque’s mood at Ferrari this year.

Lazenby’s take on Leclerc’s feelings towards Ferrari in 2025 will concern team principal Fred Vasseur.

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

Charles Leclerc ‘has not been a happy camper’ behind the scenes at Ferrari in 2025

Lazenby was speaking on Sky Sports F1 (26/10 7:03 pm) and explained: “We know, from what we hear behind the scenes, that Charles has not been a happy camper.

“He’s been there seven years; it’s his seventh year with the team. He’s used to being a team leader.

“Lewis has come in; there seems to be great respect between the pair, but everything is geared towards 2026.”

Collins replied: “Yeah, I think everything is geared towards 2026. I get the frustration for Charles Leclerc.

“We all know he’s a really, really good driver, and he’s not had the McLaren that we’ve seen this year.

“He’s not had a car where even if he has the best teammate next to him, the two of them can fight for the championship.

“Neither of them are in the drivers’ championship fight at this stage, and for a team of Ferrari’s stature and the money they put into this F1 team, they should be doing better.

“They should have been doing better over the last 18 years since they won anything.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Charles Leclerc explains tyre strategy decision that earned him second at the Mexican Grand Prix

Leclerc and Hamilton will be battling to be Ferrari’s team leader next season, especially if the car turns out to be a championship contender.

Hamilton has the experience of winning seven titles, but Leclerc understands every intricacy of being a Ferrari driver.

Reflecting on the race in Ferrari’s official post-weekend media session, Leclerc said: “It’s been a very positive weekend. We didn’t come here with the expectation of replicating what we did in Austin, and in the end, we executed a second great weekend, this time one step higher on the podium. I’m proud of the job our team has done.

“I was tempted to stop a second time earlier on during the race, but decided to stick with my medium tyres and make it work. We did have some luck too when the Virtual Safety Car came out in the closing laps, as with Max closing in quickly, it would have been more difficult to keep him behind me while losing grip on those tyres.

“We have to focus on each race as it comes, and the standard we have set over the past two weekends has to be our target.

“It was amazing to feel all the support from our fans here in Mexico City this weekend. The passion in the stadium was just incredible and made us feel at home.”

Leclerc clung onto second ahead of Verstappen by the skin of his teeth when the virtual safety car came out.

Hamilton’s recent improved form has impressed Leclerc, but he will be keen to emphasise to Vasseur if he does want to choose a team leader in 2026 that he’s currently 64 points clear in the championship.