Former Ferrari Components 1 engineer Jock Clear believes Charles Leclerc can be much more motivated by his on-track battles with Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton’s introduction to Ferrari hasn’t been easy crusing. Becoming a member of the Maranello crew in 2025, Hamilton struggled to seek out his ft, trying dejected all through the season and at occasions even saying that the crew deserved a driver higher than himself.
Nevertheless, the seven-time World Champion appeared much more snug in 2026. With new rules and a say within the crew path, Hamilton closed the teammate head-to-head, took his first victory in pink and at the moment leads Leclerc by 12 factors within the standings.
The season hasn’t been with out its conflicts. Throughout the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, the tensions reached a boiling level after Leclerc made a transfer on Hamilton for the lead within the opening corners and the duo ran off the street. The Brit was vocal on the radio and after the race that he didn’t agree with the transfer.
The crew met in Brazil to clear the air, with all events saying the problems had been resolved and so they had been dedicated to shifting on.
Leclerc will ‘redouble and hold enhancing’
Clear spoke to PlanetF1.com in regards to the dynamic, with a novel perspective from having labored with each drivers. He held a job as a Mercedes efficiency engineer in 2013/2014 earlier than shifting on to a job as Leclerc’s driver coach at Ferrari.
Clear gave his perception on the stress and the battle, believing that the battle would push Leclerc to battle tougher. He additionally expressed his pleasure for the crew and the work that’s been put in to get each drivers within the place to battle as they’ve this season.
“I feel Lewis is rather more snug with the suggestions he’s getting from this automobile [in 2026].” He stated.
“That’s a testomony to the entire crew, and so they have proven they will problem with both driver. That could be a nice place to be in.
“I feel there may be extra to return from Lewis and, in flip, Charles will redouble his efforts and hold enhancing.”
Clear additionally identified that nobody needed to see one driver dominating within the crew, however somewhat the 2 going head-to-head and pushing one another to be higher.
“That is precisely the dynamic we needed from Lewis arriving.
“Charles is just not one to shirk a problem!”
The Ferrari path
Clear stated Ferrari are in a very good place regardless of hypothesis that crew principal Fred Vasseur will not be retained. Ex-Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner is called as a possible substitute.
He confessed it’s onerous to touch upon Horner’s management, having by no means labored with him. He stated: “I’ve by no means labored with Christian, so it’s tough to say if his management model would swimsuit Ferrari.
“However definitely his wealth of data and confirmed monitor report counsel he is aware of what it takes to win.
“[Can I see Horner] at Ferrari? I feel Ferrari are literally in fairly a very good place proper now.
“They’ve two drivers who can ship on the very entrance and while we’re all determined for silverware, their season has been a very good step ahead from final, and I’m excited to see the place they are going to be subsequent 12 months.”
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