Is Ferrari at Monza playing second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton? Charles Leclerc’s take on the situation is sparking debate

Ferrari is aiming high at Monza. Bolstered by the deafening support of the Prancing Horse’s fans—as well as the extra horsepower provided by the introduction of the ADUO-2—the two Maranello drivers are looking to secure a victory at the Italian Grand Prix that would be historic for both of them. However, the Drivers’ World Championship is also a major factor, with Lewis Hamilton currently leading Charles Leclerc in the standings. And some recent comments by Leclerc on this very topic are sure to spark debate among fans.

One of the major topics at Monza in recent years has undoubtedly been slipstreaming, especially during Saturday’s qualifying sessions. Ferrari’s handling of such a crucial moment has sparked fierce controversy ever since Carlos Sainz’s time with the team. And, after 2025 saw little cooperation between Hamilton and Leclerc, the Monegasque driver has assured that 2026 will be different. “Our philosophy has never changed,” said the Monegasque driver. “In this regard, we’ve always taken turns, but looking ahead to Sunday, Lewis has priority. We’ll certainly do what we need to do as a team. But if we risk compromising the result, we won’t do anything. Otherwise, if I have the chance to help him, I’ll do so and try to draft off another car.”

Internal tensions at Ferrari are certainly nothing new this weekend. Already at Zandvoort, in the last Grand Prix before Monza, Hamilton had pointed the finger at the team’s strategic management, complaining that he’d lost precious time behind Leclerc at a crucial stage of the race. “We did a great job, but I think I was faster than Charles in the race. I lost a lot of time behind him because the team didn’t do what they were supposed to do or didn’t make the decision they should have made. That’s where we lost the podium,” the seven-time world champion had said after the race. Leclerc, for his part, admitted that he would have liked to stay on the track longer, while acknowledging that he had followed the orders he received from the pit wall. These skirmishes make the Monegasque driver’s conciliatory remarks ahead of the Italian Grand Prix all the more significant.

For Hamilton, the Italian Grand Prix is a race laden with additional significance. The Briton dreams of becoming the most successful driver in the race’s history, surpassing Michael Schumacher on his own: both have five wins at Monza, with the German claiming his last victory at the Brianza circuit in 2006. It’s no coincidence that Ferrari chose this very weekend to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s first triumph at Monza, dating back to the 1996 season, with special livery and racing suits dedicated to the German legend. It’s a tribute in which Hamilton is also called upon to play a leading role on the track.

The British driver also chose an entrance into the paddock befitting the occasion, arriving behind the wheel of a vintage Ferrari F40 and complementing the choice with an elegant look—a dark suit and camel-colored coat, despite the high temperatures. The car, built in 1991, had been stored in a garage for over thirty years before being rediscovered and restored by specialists in Maranello. The bond between Hamilton and the F40 has its roots in his childhood: “This is my dream car and always has been, for as long as I can remember. When I joined Ferrari, I made sure to have one with me right from my first day in Maranello,” the driver himself shared on social media.

Hovering in the background of it all is the figure of Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver, who leads the World Championship by 59 points over Hamilton and Russell, will start from the back of the grid due to a power unit replacement, but he remains the one to watch this weekend. The Bologna native is the first Italian driver to arrive at Monza as the championship leader since Alberto Ascari, and if he were to win the title, he would become the first Italian world champion in 73 years. This prospect divides Italian fans, who remain deeply attached to Ferrari, as Antonelli himself acknowledged at a press conference: “I know how we Italians are—we have a unique way of getting excited, and Ferrari is a massive brand, a symbol that goes far beyond the track. So it’s only natural that there are so many fans cheering for them.” When asked about Antonelli’s possible future in red, Hamilton himself elegantly sidestepped the question: “It’s a possibility, of course, but I don’t think Toto Wolff is willing to let him go just yet.”