Leclerc explains key change behind Ferrari resurgence as Scuderia form improves – Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari has finally found the right direction after a difficult opening phase to the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the Monegasque revealing that returning to his own driving approach has helped spark a significant improvement in results.
Although Ferrari still faces a substantial gap in both championships, Leclerc says the team’s response over recent races gives him confidence heading into the second half of the campaign.
Leclerc has been one of Formula 1’s standout performers in recent weeks. Across the final four race weekends before the summer break, he collected 63 championship points—the same total as current Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli. During that same period, he also outscored Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, who scored 56 points.
The improvement marks a sharp contrast to the opening rounds of the season, when Hamilton held the upper hand in the intra-team battle after adapting more quickly to Ferrari’s 2026 package.
Leclerc reveals why he abandoned Hamilton’s approach
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Leclerc explained that he initially attempted to mirror Hamilton’s setup direction before eventually returning to a style that better suited his own driving.
“I tried everything. First, I followed the path Hamilton had taken, which he immediately adapted to better, only to find that it didn’t work for me. Ultimately, I succeeded by sticking to my own approach.”
The change has coincided with Ferrari’s strongest spell of the season.
Leclerc’s resurgence was highlighted by victory at the British Grand Prix earlier this month, ending a wait of 623 days for his first Formula 1 win. Since then, Ferrari has consistently featured at the front of the field, suggesting both driver and team have made meaningful progress with the SF-26.
While Hamilton continues to contribute valuable points, Leclerc’s recent performances have re-established him as Ferrari’s leading championship contender heading into the remaining twelve race weekends.
Ferrari star keeping title ambitions in perspective
Despite the recent momentum, Leclerc is refusing to become distracted by championship calculations.
The Ferrari driver heads into the summer break 81 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while Hamilton remains 31 points ahead of his teammate in the standings.
Rather than focusing on closing those deficits immediately, Leclerc believes Ferrari’s priority must be to maximise every remaining opportunity.
“The journey isn’t over yet.”
He also reflected honestly on the first half of Ferrari’s campaign.
“The first half of the season was anything but perfect. But I’m happy with the reaction we showed, and it will be crucial for the second half of the season.”
Leclerc also urged caution when discussing championship ambitions.
“We shouldn’t think too far ahead about the World Championship, because at the moment it is crucial to concentrate on each individual race and get the best out of the track.”
With twelve race weekends still remaining after the summer break, Ferrari has plenty of opportunities to continue reducing the gap to its rivals. The season resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort from August 21-23, where the Scuderia will hope to build on the encouraging form shown before the break.
Whether Ferrari can sustain that momentum remains one of the biggest questions heading into the second half of the Formula 1 season, but Leclerc’s recent performances suggest the team may finally have found a direction capable of delivering regular podiums—and potentially more victories.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
