Former Formula 1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer has delivered a blunt message to Ferrari: don’t try to fix Charles Leclerc, insisting the Scuderia should “leave him alone”.
The Monegasque’s inconsistent form relative to team-mate Lewis Hamilton has sparked a debate, but Szafnauer believes the worst thing Ferrari could do during the summer break is summon Leclerc for a formal performance review.
His advice is strikingly simple – back the driver and stay out of his way.
Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast alongside former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley and host Jake Humphrey, Szafnauer dismissed the idea that Leclerc needs a corrective conversation.
“No, leave him alone,” said the former Aston Martin and Alpine team boss. “I would not have a conversation, but be supportive.”
Ferrari heads into the second half of the 2026 season second in the constructors’ championship, 72 points behind Mercedes, with Hamilton enjoying the stronger campaign so far.
The seven-time world champion claimed his first Ferrari victory in Barcelona and sits second in the drivers’ standings on 169 points, while Leclerc is fourth on 138 after a more uneven opening half of the year, although he also put a win on the board at Silverstone
Hamilton ahead – but the gap may be narrowing
Szafnauer does not deny that Hamilton has had the upper hand for much of the season. What he disputes is the suggestion that Leclerc’s struggles require management intervention.
“Lewis at the beginning of the year, and I’m not speaking from facts, just the feeling I get, was a little bit more ahead of Leclerc than he is now," Szafnauer explained.
"I think Charles has stepped it up in the last two a little bit towards Lewis.”
That is an important distinction. Rather than seeing a driver in decline, Szafnauer sees a driver beginning to close the gap.
It is also a reminder that Leclerc is navigating one of the toughest comparisons in Formula 1. Hamilton arrived in Maranello carrying seven world titles and a reputation for relentless race execution.
Measuring yourself against that benchmark is a very different challenge from leading a team built around you.
A rare position for Leclerc
Smedley, who spent years inside Ferrari’s engineering ranks, suggested the current situation is unusual territory for Leclerc.
“I think this is the first time in a long time with Charles where his team-mate has had a significant upper hand," Smedley explained.
He added that Leclerc’s discomfort with the Ferrari had become evident.
“Charles wasn’t happy with the car. I know that they changed components around the braking system, types of material and stuff like that, but it felt like he was just slightly lost for a driver of his experience and how good he is,” he added.
That observation cuts to the heart of the debate. Ferrari can either interpret Leclerc’s struggles as a psychological issue requiring management attention, or as a technical issue requiring engineering support. Szafnauer is clearly in the second camp.
His warning is pointed because Formula 1 teams often mistake activity for leadership. A closed-door meeting can create the impression that management is taking decisive action, but it can also signal distrust at precisely the moment a driver needs confidence.
Read also:
Hill: Hamilton right to put ‘power and reputation’ to work at FerrariLeclerc has already shown flashes of his best in 2026, most notably with his triumph in the British Grand Prix. Szafnauer’s argument is that Ferrari should focus on giving him the tools to repeat that level rather than adding another layer of scrutiny.
Support him. Improve the car. And above all, leave him alone.
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