Two Former F1 Leaders Gave Ferrari Opposite Advice on Charles Leclerc's 2026 Slump — Here's Who Said What

Speaking after the British Grand Prix — where Leclerc actually won — Smedley said Ferrari could not afford to let its two drivers race freely if it wanted to beat Mercedes over the full season . He described the necessary move as "extreme" and "controversial" but unavoidable, going so far as to suggest Ferrari should have considered swapping Hamilton and Leclerc during the Silverstone race itself .

"If they kind of play it down the middle and try to play the game of fairness, it'll just backfire on them," Smedley said .

Smedley's assessment of Leclerc was blunt: "It felt like he was just slightly lost for a driver of his experience and ability. This is the first time in a long time with Charles where his teammate has had a significant upper hand" .

Szafnauer: 'Leave Him Alone'

Otmar Szafnauer offered an almost opposite prescription. The former Alpine team principal advised Ferrari management not to call Leclerc in for a formal mid-season meeting at all .

"No. Leave him alone," Szafnauer said on the same podcast. "I would not have a conversation, but be supportive" .

Szafnauer's logic was rooted in driver psychology. He argued that Leclerc already knew he was underperforming and that adding pressure through a formal intervention would be counterproductive. Drivers in a dip, he explained, need reassurance — not interrogation .

He also pointed out that Leclerc had begun to close the gap: "I think Charles has made up a little ground on Lewis in the last two races" .

What Was Actually Going Wrong for Leclerc?

The advice from both former F1 figures was grounded in a real technical problem that had been building since the Monaco Grand Prix. Leclerc suffered a crash at his home race after reporting an inconsistent brake feel on the SF-26 . He later switched from Brembo to Carbone Industrie brake discs — the same supplier Hamilton used — in an attempt to regain confidence .

That change brought a slight improvement but did not solve the underlying issue. Leclerc admitted before the summer break that he was still searching for the right feeling with the car .

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, speaking after Leclerc's Silverstone win, attributed the breakthrough less to raw pace and more to restoring a driver's belief: "The result is the best boost of the confidence" .

Two Paths, One Question

The split between Smedley and Szafnauer mirrors a deeper tension inside any top F1 team when a championship charge is on the line. Does the organisation trust the struggling driver to find his way back, or does it ruthlessly consolidate behind the stronger performer?

Smedley's answer: you cannot split points and expect to beat Mercedes. Szafnauer's answer: you cannot manage a driver out of a slump by piling on pressure.

Ferrari, sitting second in the constructors' standings with 307 points — 72 behind Mercedes — had to choose a lane . The podcast debate captured why that choice was so difficult.