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Unlike last year, Lewis Hamilton seems to have his confidence back, which could spell bad news for Charles Leclerc.
With his P2 finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton managed to pass George Russell and take second place in the championship standings.
Hamilton hasn’t been as high as second in the standings since his legendary title race against Max Verstappen in 2021.
Lewis Hamilton believes he’s got what it takes to win the 2026 championship🏆 How do you rate his chances?
Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto
This recent surge in form has given the seven-time world champion his confidence back, as Hamilton looks to beat Kimi Antonelli in the title race.
But what makes Lewis Hamilton such a threat this season is the fact that his mindset has changed since his first season with Ferrari.
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Timo Glock says Charles Leclerc must be ‘on his guard’ after seeing Lewis Hamilton on ‘equal footing’
According to Sky Sports Germany expert Timo Glock, there is a stark contrast in Lewis Hamilton’s demeanour from last season compared to now.
Last season, Hamilton struggled to get the best of Charles Leclerc, and it impacted his body language. Now that he has started to perform better, Hamilton looks completely confident, and it is a reason for Leclerc to be nervous going forward.
“Canada wasn’t a flash in the pan. This upward trend is there. He’s motivated, and his body language has completely changed.
“Last year, he was hunched over because he didn’t know how to get close to Charles Leclerc. Now he’s on equal footing. That shows Charles Leclerc has got to be on his guard.”
It’s no secret that this recent surge in form has impacted the Monegasque driver. After his crash yesterday, Leclerc immediately vowed to follow Hamilton’s approach heading into the next race.
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Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Scuderia Ferrari HP Press Office, Oracle Red Bull Racing / Red Bull Content Pool, McLaren Racing
Lewis Hamilton’s confidence has given Ferrari a major boost
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Jerome d’Ambrosio, the deputy team principal for Ferrari, also pointed to this recent surge in confidence as a reason for the boost in the team’s morale.
“Fantastic. He’s built up this momentum and confidence in the car over the last few races. That’s now reflected in the results. Lewis really made the most of the weekend. We’re absolutely delighted; it’s important for the team.”
Things have certainly changed drastically since last year. While Hamilton complained about Ferrari’s brakes last year, he now finds himself in a far more suitable situation.
On the other hand, Leclerc’s form has taken a bit of a nosedive compared to last year, despite a strong start to the season.
It will be interesting to see how things change for Leclerc next week, as he looks to emulate Hamilton’s approach with his car.
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