Lewis Hamilton on alert as Charles Leclerc insider teases fierce response
The rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is simmering at Ferrari
Former Ferrari engineer Jock Clear has told PlanetF1.com that Charles Leclerc “is not one to shirk a challenge” after his rivalry with teammate Lewis Hamilton ignited at the recent Mexican Grand Prix.
And he believes Hamilton’s F1 2026 revival will only inspire Leclerc to “redouble his efforts and keep improving.”
Jock Clear: Charles Leclerc will not ‘shirk’ Lewis Hamilton ‘challenge’
Leclerc dominated the inter-team battle at Ferrari in 2025, outscoring his illustrious teammate by 86 points as Hamilton endured the worst season of his career.
Hamilton has enjoyed an improved second season with the Scuderia in F1 2026, claiming his first victory for Ferrari in Barcelona before Leclerc won at Silverstone.
Hamilton holds a 12-point lead over his teammate with three races remaining, with the pair clashing in Mexico earlier this month.
Analysis: Brazilian Grand Prix
Brazilian GP conclusions: Hamilton talking his way out, Russell crying out, big Lawson dilemma
Winners and losers from the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix
Leclerc was penalised for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage in battle with Hamilton, who later accused the Monegasque of racing his teammates – including Hamilton’s predecessors Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel – more aggressively than other drivers.
Clear has worked with both drivers over the course of his career, acting as Hamilton’s performance engineer at Mercedes in 2013/14 before the pair were reunited at Ferrari, where Clear established a close relationship with Leclerc as a driver coach.
Speaking to PlanetF1.com in association with Champions Speakers, Clear claimed that the current dynamic between Hamilton and Leclerc is “exactly [what] we wanted” from Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025.
He believes the re-emergence of Hamilton will force Leclerc to raise his own game, with the latter relishing the challenge posed by the former Mercedes driver.
Clear said: “I think Lewis is much more comfortable with the feedback he’s getting from this car [in 2026].
“That’s a testament to the whole team and they have shown they can challenge with either driver. That is a great position to be in.
“I think there is more to come from Lewis and in turn Charles will redouble his efforts and keep improving.
“This is exactly the dynamic we wanted from Lewis arriving.
“Charles is not one to shirk a challenge!”
More on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from PlanetF1.com
Clear’s latest comments come after he insisted that Ferrari is “in quite a good place” despite speculation surrounding the future of team principal Fred Vasseur.
PlanetF1.com revealed at September’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix that Vasseur could be eased from his role as team principal at the end of 2026, with Ferrari WEC boss Antonello Coletta and former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner among those linked with the position.
Clear, who left Ferrari last year after a decade at Maranello, argued that the team has shown encouraging signs under Vasseur by returning to winning ways in 2026.
Asked if Horner would be a good fit at Ferrari, he said: “I have never worked with Christian, so it’s difficult to say if his leadership style would suit Ferrari.
“But certainly his wealth of knowledge and proven track record suggest he knows what it takes to win.
“[Can I see Horner] at Ferrari? I think Ferrari are actually in quite a good place right now.
“They have two drivers who can deliver at the very front and whilst we are all desperate for silverware, their season has been a good step forward from last and I’m excited to see where they will be next year.”
Read next: Damon Hill update after Sky F1 ‘return’ sends comeback rumours into overdrive
