Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster win in Barcelona officially checked him into the Ferrari history books, sending the Tifosi into a frenzy and simultaneously turning up the burner under Charles Leclerc.
While Hamilton bathed in the Spanish glory, the Monegasque’s weekend dissolved into a nightmare of a qualifying crash and a terminal power steering failure on race day.
The knives are out, and the media is already asking: is Leclerc about to crack?
But David Coulthard believes Leclerc has the “maturity” and long-term security at the Scuderia to withstand the growing pressure created by his illustrious teammate’s resurgence.
"I think that he's mature enough in his career now to understand that racing against a seven-time world champion, you're certainly not going to beat him all the time," the Scot argued.
Hamilton’s revival changes the narrative
When Hamilton arrived at Ferrari after his long and glittering spell with Mercedes, many expected an immediate internal battle. Instead, Leclerc initially appeared firmly in control, continuing to set the benchmark within the team.
But the balance of power has become far more intriguing as the season has unfolded.
Coulthard believes the warning signs that Hamilton was rediscovering his sharpest form appeared much earlier than many realized.
"He probably found it a bit easier than he expected when Hamilton joined from Mercedes, he basically was still the pacesetter within the team,” the former F1 driver continued.
“But what we've seen this year, think back to Shanghai where they were pass, repass, battling. We were questioning, 'Are Ferrari doing the right thing, letting their guys race?'
“But actually, it was brilliant entertainment for us, and it was the early sign that Lewis Hamilton was back to his brilliant best."
That fierce wheel-to-wheel duel in Shanghai now looks increasingly significant. Rather than exposing Ferrari to unnecessary risk, it offered a glimpse of a rejuvenated Hamilton eager to remind the paddock why he owns seven world titles.
The result? A Ferrari garage that suddenly feels less predictable and a championship fight that has become considerably more complicated for Leclerc.
A long-term Ferrari future provides perspective
Leclerc’s recent struggles have inevitably fueled discussion about how he will respond if Hamilton continues to stack up victories. But Coulthard sees no reason for panic.
The former Grand Prix winner acknowledges that the Ferrari driver will be frustrated by his recent performances, particularly after difficult outings in the last few races.
But, Coulthard points to the bigger picture. While Hamilton may be enjoying a spectacular second wind, Leclerc remains Ferrari’s long-term investment and has time firmly on his side, although the 28-year-old himself would likely firmly disagree.
"So he will be disappointed in his own performance in the last couple of grands prix. He's got a multi-million-pound, secure contract going forward,” the Channel 4 commentator added.
"Even if the worst comes to the worst for him in that Lewis continually delivers, gets the wins, wins the championship, Lewis can surely only be around for another two years, three years.
Read also: Villeneuve blasts Leclerc as Hamilton takes control at Ferrari“I can't imagine he's going to be around for the next five years, which I imagine is the length of the contract that Charles has."
That perspective could prove crucial as Ferrari navigates one of Formula 1’s most fascinating intra-team rivalries.
Hamilton currently sits second in the drivers’ standings, 41 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Leclerc occupies fourth place and trails his teammate by 40 points.
The numbers underline Hamilton’s resurgence, but they also reinforce Coulthard’s central point: Leclerc’s future at Ferrari is built for the long haul.
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