(Motorsport-Total.com) – Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur sees the strong driver pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as an important factor in the team’s current development. The Frenchman emphasizes that two drivers at a similar level can help the team enormously – both in terms of performance on the track and in the further development of the car.
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“It is much easier to improve when two drivers push each other,” Vasseur explains to Sky. This internal competition in particular brings additional performance to the team. “This positive rivalry within the team is very important and brings performance for everyone.”
Hamilton’s strong impression at the start of the 2026 season fits exactly with this assessment. The seven-time world champion seems to be getting along much better with the Ferrari than last year. In qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton was even able to beat teammate Leclerc.
At the season opener in Australia, the Brit was also very close to the Monegasque pace-wise. In the sprint in China, Hamilton confirmed this trend again. As a result, Ferrari currently appears to have a much more balanced line-up than last season.
Ralf Schumacher sees a clear difference to 2025
Sky expert Ralf Schumacher sees this development as a decisive step forward for Ferrari. Especially compared to last year, the situation has changed significantly. “It’s partly the patience, but also having two drivers who obviously get along well with the same car and then develop in the same direction,” Schumacher explains.
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That was exactly not the case last year. Schumacher recalls that Hamilton initially had great difficulties with the Ferrari in 2025. “That was such a topic last year. Lewis came in and didn’t get along with the car at all,” says the former Formula 1 pilot.
In the meantime, however, the picture has completely changed. Hamilton feels much more comfortable in the car and can now drive on an equal footing with Leclerc. According to Schumacher, the current driver pairing also helps Ferrari with technical issues. “Ferrari has such a direction and two experienced pilots who can of course help, especially with the battery issue,” Schumacher explains.
For Ferrari, it is particularly important that both drivers are now developing the car in a similar direction. If both pilots give similar feedback, the engineers can work more specifically on improvements. This makes development work considerably easier and ensures that updates take effect more quickly.
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