When Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari to race alongside Charles Leclerc this season, expectations were high about how the two drivers would match up. Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 champion widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats, entered the team as the experienced veteran, while Leclerc came in as a promising young talent already showing great potential. With 12 races completed, the mid-point of the season offers a clear view of their performances within Ferrari’s competitive environment.
Given Hamilton needed time to adapt to the new car and team dynamics, it is worth examining how both drivers have fared so far in this context and what their head-to-head stats reveal.
Performance in F1 Sprint Events
This season, there have been two sprint races that provide a glimpse into the drivers‘ pace over short formats. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are level in these sprints, with Hamilton finishing ahead in China and Leclerc prevailing in Miami. Despite this parity, Hamilton has gained more championship points from sprints—14 points compared to Leclerc’s 4—demonstrating a stronger overall finish across these quicker competitions.
Yet, victories have been elusive for Leclerc in the full Grand Prix format. Hamilton holds one sprint win and a podium, while Leclerc is still chasing his first race victory this season, having faced setbacks such as crashing out on the formation lap in Miami.
Qualifying and Grand Prix Race Comparisons
Qualifying has tended to favor Charles Leclerc, who has consistently outpaced Hamilton when it comes to single-lap speed. Throughout 14 qualifying sessions, Leclerc has led nine times, while Hamilton has been faster on five occasions. This gives Leclerc a clear advantage in starting positions.
At the races, Leclerc’s strong qualifying performances have often translated into better results, establishing a commanding lead over Hamilton with nine race wins or superior finishes to Hamilton’s four. The only exceptions where Hamilton outperformed Leclerc occurred at Imola and Silverstone, with the latter being the first race where Hamilton had the outright pace advantage, while Imola saw Leclerc disadvantaged largely due to team strategy.
Despite these differences, Hamilton remains the more consistent point scorer, having avoided lengthy podium droughts in his previous seasons. However, this season marks his longest stretch without a podium. In contrast, Leclerc has appeared on the podium four times and narrowly missed a chance for victory during the Monaco Grand Prix.
Currently, Leclerc holds a 26-point lead over Hamilton based solely on Grand Prix weekend performances.
Overall Season Performance and Points Gap
Looking at the combined data from qualifying, sprint, and race results, the performance gap between Hamilton and Leclerc narrows somewhat. While Leclerc leads in qualifying sessions and races, Hamilton’s consistent finishes have kept the overall points difference to just 16 points mid-season.
This relatively small points gap reflects Hamilton’s ability to salvage points even on weekends where he may not have been the fastest, ensuring he remains competitive in the championship battle. The duel between the two Ferrari drivers remains closely contested, underscoring that while Leclerc currently commands a performance edge, Hamilton’s resilience and experience keep him firmly in contention.
Implications for the Second Half of the Season
With the first half of the Formula 1 season providing valuable insights, the ongoing rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc inside Ferrari is likely to intensify. Hamilton’s adjustment phase appears complete, and both drivers will seek to capitalize on improvements and consistency to strengthen their positions within the team and the championship standings.
The narrow points margin and contrasting strengths of Hamilton’s experience against Leclerc’s raw pace set the stage for an intriguing second half as they continue to push Ferrari forward. This dynamic battle will undoubtedly be a key storyline as the teams contest the remaining races of the year.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton openly shares his passion for a vegan lifestyle. He also invests in businesses related to plant-based products.
Q. Why did Lewis Hamilton quit?
A. Hamilton is said to have joined Ferrari from Mercedes due to a longer contract and higher pay. Additionally, he hadn’t won any races in 2022 or 2023, so he aimed to boost his career with a different team.
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton a vegan?
A. Lewis Hamilton believes he proved skeptics wrong by thriving on a vegan diet. He switched to veganism in 2017, even though his doctors advised against it. Since making this change, he has won four championships and reported having more energy. Hamilton is one of many pro athletes successfully adopting plant-based diets.
Q. Why does Lewis Hamilton not have a wife?
A. He talked about the choices he made to advance in his career, such as not starting a family. Hamilton said, “I’m motivated and committed. I don’t have a wife or kids. My main goal is winning.”