Lewis Hamilton told why Charles Leclerc does everything he can but with ‘much greater ease’

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Former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi has issued his verdict on which of Ferrari’s star-studded line-up in 2026 is the superior driver, pointing out how Charles Leclerc can often do the same things as Lewis Hamilton, but with ‘much greater ease’.

With Lewis Hamilton now in the midst of his second full season at Maranello, he is already a lot closer to Charles Leclerc than last year in the Ferrari teammate battle.

The Monegasque thoroughly trounced the seven-time world champion last season, with Leclerc finishing ahead of Hamilton 18 times in the Grand Prix format, with the Briton leading Ferrari’s charge on just three occasions.

Can Ferrari still win an F1 title in 2026?

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Qualifying was a similar story. Hamilton only got the better of his teammate five times, while Leclerc held the single-lap bragging rights after 19 qualifying sessions. While Leclerc still leads the qualifying head-to-head this year, the Grand Prix comparison is currently split two apiece.

• READ MORE: Rob Smedley says 95% of Ferrari’s employees don’t ‘understand’ how to win a championship

Vitantonio Liuzzi claims Charles Leclerc can do everything Lewis Hamilton can but with ‘greater ease’

In a recent interview with Formula Passion, former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi gave his thoughts on why Leclerc continues to be a step ahead of his vastly more successful teammate despite Hamilton’s newfound confidence at Ferrari.

He said, “Hamilton is one of the greatest champions in history, but I think that, ultimately, age makes the difference.

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“Once you pass a certain age, even if you’re still physically at the top of your game, I believe there’s a natural, physiological decline in mental sharpness and reflexes that prevents him from performing as he’d like.

“He always fights like a bulldog and puts his heart and soul into it, but Leclerc does it with much greater ease, and this isn’t a question of pure talent because, after all, Hamilton has been one of the greatest in history.”

F1 pundit Jolyon Palmer has shared some concerns over the 2026 season potentially getting away from Hamilton as it ensues. Ferrari brought a plethora of upgrades to the last race weekend in Miami, but the Briton simply wasn’t able to make the most of them.

Still, Hamilton has already managed to claim the maiden podium in red that eluded him during his debut year with the Scuderia, which has added to him being a rejuvenated figure at Maranello this year.

• READ MORE: McLaren have taken action at ‘lightning speed’ after studying Ferrari F1 car for two months

Vitantonio Liuzzi is ‘not too optimistic’ that Ferrari can challenge for the 2026 F1 title

Liuzzi also gave his opinion on whether Ferrari could potentially challenge for end-of-year silverware this season, following a strong start to the season that labelled them as the second strongest team on the grid behind Mercedes.

McLaren have seemingly caught up in recent weeks, leading Liuzzi to share a pessimistic outlook on Ferrari’s chances. “I hope so, but I’m not too optimistic,” the Italian driver opined.

“Unfortunately, we’ve become accustomed over the years to their development being a little slower than the others throughout the season, even though they’re still a team fighting for the top three spots in the championship.

“From the outside, it’s easy to criticise, but improving is never easy because the rivals never sleep. Ferrari always shows they’re up there, but unfortunately, not enough to fight for the title. I hope I’m wrong; maybe we’ll see Ferrari fighting in the second half of the season.”