Formula 1 is bracing for one of the most explosive teammate battles in years as Charles Leclerc prepares to go head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. But former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has a word of caution for the Monegasque star—if Leclerc wants to thrive alongside Hamilton, he must play his cards right.
“Leclerc must be smart. He has to play this game well, he has to stick to Lewis’ game and not go against him,” Montoya told the media.
“Instead, Charles often has a tendency to become super insistent with the team when things don’t go well for him.”
Montoya believes that Leclerc’s usual approach of openly expressing frustrations with Ferrari—something fans have seen in radio messages and post-race interviews—won’t work against Hamilton.
Why? Because Hamilton has mastered the art of intra-team battles—and he knows how to win them.
Ferrari’s Big Gamble: Can Leclerc Handle a Mind-Game Master?
Leclerc has been the face of Ferrari for years, but that era is over. With seven-time world champion Hamilton joining the Scuderia, expectations are sky-high for the British icon to deliver Ferrari’s first title since 2007.
Hamilton himself has called his move to Ferrari a “leap of faith”, hoping to revive his title-winning form after a frustrating final stint at Mercedes. But Montoya believes Leclerc will need to adapt quickly, especially in how he handles internal battles at Ferrari.
“For Leclerc, it will be very different to have certain verbal confrontations with someone like Hamilton compared to when he had them with a person like Carlos Sainz.”
Leclerc’s past conflicts with Sainz—where he often aired his frustrations publicly—were one thing. Challenging Hamilton in the same way is an entirely different ballgame.
The Early Season Will Be Key—But How Long Will the Peace Last?
On paper, Ferrari has one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid. But with both Hamilton and Leclerc fighting for supremacy, it’s only a matter of time before tensions boil over—especially if they start taking points off each other in the championship battle.
Montoya suggests the relationship will likely start off friendly, but warns that things could turn fiery as the season progresses.
“Certainly, Ferrari will be one of the most exciting teams in the upcoming season. It is likely that the relationship between Hamilton and Leclerc will remain cordial at least in the first few rounds. However, conflict could arise if the two end up pushing one another on-track.”
Ferrari’s last major intra-team battle—Vettel vs. Leclerc in 2019—ended in disaster, with collisions and team orders creating chaos. Could we see a repeat with Hamilton and Leclerc?
One thing is certain: all eyes will be on Ferrari when the lights go out in Melbourne.
