Leclerc Praises Hamilton: 'He Is Driving at an Exceptional Level'

Charles Leclerc has surrendered to the evidence; the Monegasque Ferrari driver has publicly praised his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Far from any hint of internal rivalry, Leclerc acknowledged that the Briton is going through an excellent moment behind the wheel of the SF-26: "Maybe people should remember that Lewis has seven world titles; it's clear that he is a driver with exceptional talent," he declared at the official FIA press conference prior to the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Monegasque went further, comparing Hamilton's current situation to previous seasons: "I think the previous generation of cars was somewhat strange in certain aspects; maybe Lewis didn't like them too much, but this year he is driving at an exceptional level," he added. Words that take on special relevance if one takes into account that both drivers have starred in some on-track friction throughout the season, the most talked about in Monza, where they came close to touching at the first chicane; despite this, Leclerc wanted to make clear that the relationship between the two is good and that mutual respect prevails.

Hamilton's season with Ferrari is notably better than his 2025 debut. The Briton won his first race with the Scuderia in Barcelona and has added several podiums that keep him in the fight for the top spots. In Sepang last week, he put in a strong qualifying run to earn second on the grid, but he couldn't challenge an unstoppable Max Verstappen in the race.

Leclerc, for his part, preferred to remain cautious about Ferrari's expectations for the Singapore Grand Prix. The Marina Bay circuit has historically been favorable for the Scuderia, but the Monegasque does not want to be overconfident: "It's one of the circuits where the layout design seems favorable for our car, but it remains to be seen if that will translate into reality. Budapest and Monaco also seemed propitious, but in the end they weren't; Silverstone, on the other hand, seemed like a terrible layout, yet we did very well. I don't know what will happen, but we will give everything," he explained.

The Ferrari driver was also realistic about the team's recent trend: "Historically, we are quite strong here, but we can't base ourselves on the past. We have to do everything possible to place ourselves in the best position; it's true that the recent trend has been to lose performance against those above, so winning will be very difficult," Leclerc concluded.

Ferrari sits second in the constructors' championship, but the gap to Mercedes has widened, and pressure to win again grows with each race. Singapore, a circuit where the Scuderia has shone in the past, offers a new chance to reverse the situation and show the team is still in the fight for the top positions. Leclerc and Hamilton, with their talent and experience, are Ferrari's best weapons to do so.