Martin Brundle believes Ferrari uneasy about Charles Leclerc’s daring transfer in opposition to Lewis Hamilton
Rising rigidity at Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton closes in on Charles Leclerc’s tempo
Lewis Hamilton’s rising competitiveness alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari is starting to draw severe consideration throughout the Components 1 paddock. After a difficult begin to the season that noticed the seven-time world champion struggling to completely adapt to the SF-25, Hamilton has steadily closed the hole to his Monegasque teammate for the reason that summer time break — and the steadiness of energy throughout the Scuderia seems to be shifting.
Earlier than the mid-season pause, the much-anticipated intra-team rivalry between the 2 Ferrari drivers had not really materialized, largely because of the Briton’s difficulties find confidence with the automobile’s dealing with. Nonetheless, the panorama has modified dramatically within the second half of the 2025 marketing campaign. Since Components 1 returned to motion, Lewis Hamilton has completed inside two positions of Charles Leclerc in each session the place each drivers have been categorized, usually demonstrating stronger race tempo and qualifying pace.
Lewis Hamilton has already outperformed Charles Leclerc in a number of key moments — notably on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, throughout qualifying in Singapore, and throughout each Dash classes in Austin. His win in Baku got here beneath uncommon circumstances, as he had been instructed to let Leclerc by means of after failing to finish an overtake forward, however the timing of his slowdown meant the place swap was by no means executed earlier than the end line. In distinction, on the Circuit of the Americas final weekend, the competitors was pure and unfiltered — with no group orders, simply fierce racing between two world-class drivers.
Ferrari teammates push limits on monitor in Austin
The on-track duel between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc was probably the most thrilling spectacles of america Grand Prix weekend. Their wheel-to-wheel battle through the Dash race supplied a glimpse of the underlying rigidity that might outline Ferrari’s inner dynamics going ahead. Leclerc defended firmly however pretty, leaving simply sufficient house for Lewis Hamilton to try a transfer at Flip 12 — a second that had each Ferrari engineers and followers holding their breath. Lewis Hamilton managed to slide by means of the braking zone, utilizing the sting of the run-off space to finish his transfer, however the depth of their battle symbolized how shut issues have turn into contained in the group.
Because the Dash unfolded, Charles Leclerc’s ongoing battle with Lando Norris within the opening section of the Grand Prix stored Lewis Hamilton shut behind. As soon as Norris ultimately discovered a well beyond Leclerc, Hamilton noticed a possibility to assault. He tried an audacious transfer across the exterior into the identical nook the place he had succeeded earlier, forcing the Monegasque into one other high-pressure defensive maneuver. This time, the Monegasque driver held the within line and denied Hamilton’s switchback try, pushing the British driver to the outer limits of the circuit at Flip 13. The 2 Ferraris got here perilously near touching, intensifying the sense of inner rivalry growing throughout the group.
Martin Brundle analyzes the Ferrari battle
Sky Sports activities F1 analyst and former driver Martin Brundle supplied his perspective on the incident, suggesting that Ferrari might have felt barely uneasy watching their drivers have interaction in such shut fight. Martin Brundle highlighted that each Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton seemed much more aggressive in race trim than they did throughout qualifying, indicating Ferrari had made progress with its setup over the weekend. He famous that whereas the racing was honest, the proximity of the 2 teammates on monitor was in all probability a bit “too shut for consolation” for the Ferrari pit wall.
The previous F1 driver’s feedback mirrored what many observers sensed — that whereas Ferrari’s improved tempo was encouraging, the potential for intra-team friction may turn into a difficulty if each drivers proceed acting at such related ranges. With Hamilton discovering his rhythm within the SF-25 and Charles Leclerc keen to keep up his standing as group chief, Ferrari may quickly face the traditional problem of managing two fiercely aggressive front-runners throughout the identical storage.
Respect between the 2 Ferrari drivers stays sturdy
Regardless of the depth of their wheel-to-wheel battle, Lewis Hamilton made no complaints both over group radio or in his post-race interviews. Insiders imagine that if he did have any considerations concerning the aggressiveness of the Monegasque’s defence, he would like to debate them privately throughout inner Ferrari debriefs moderately than airing them publicly. The mutual respect between the 2 drivers — each established race winners and long-standing front-runners since 2019 — stays evident, at the same time as their on-track rivalry grows sharper.
Martin Brundle additionally identified that Charles Leclerc’s defensive driving was not restricted to his battle with Hamilton. His duel with Lando Norris throughout the principle race was one of many standout highlights of the United States Grand Prix. Norris wanted a outstanding twenty-one laps to finish a clear overtake on Charles Leclerc through the first stint, and even after that, their battle reignited later within the race as Ferrari and McLaren adopted contrasting methods.
Charles Leclerc’s battle with Lando Norris supplied race spotlight
In accordance with Martin Brundle, essentially the most fascinating a part of the Grand Prix was the extended battle between Leclerc and Norris. The Sky Sports activities commentator mirrored that it was barely unlucky from a sporting perspective, because the battle seemingly prevented Norris from having an opportunity to problem Max Verstappen on the entrance. Nonetheless, the duel between Leclerc and Norris showcased among the cleanest and hardest racing of the day.
Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris demonstrated exemplary racecraft, pushing one another to the restrict whereas sustaining mutual respect on monitor. After Norris lastly overtook Leclerc through the early a part of the race, the Ferrari driver regained the place as soon as technique got here into play. Ferrari opted to carry Leclerc into the pits on lap 22 for a recent set of medium tires, whereas McLaren waited till lap 32 to cease Norris, becoming him with used softs. This choice briefly positioned the McLaren driver behind the Ferrari as soon as once more, establishing one other thrilling spherical of shut fight within the closing phases. With more energizing rubber and superior traction, Norris ultimately reclaimed the place on lap 51, concluding a protracted and tactical duel that entertained followers all through the race.
Ferrari dealing with a fragile steadiness between teamwork and rivalry
Ferrari group principal Frédéric Vasseur might want to fastidiously handle this rising rivalry, making certain that inner competitors stays constructive moderately than damaging. With each drivers able to delivering podium outcomes and doubtlessly victories, Ferrari’s problem will likely be to channel their ambition towards the group’s collective objectives moderately than permitting it to evolve into an inner energy wrestle. For now, the mutual respect between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc seems intact — however as their battle intensifies, Ferrari might quickly discover itself strolling a fantastic line between unity and rivalry throughout the Scuderia.
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