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

Smedley: Hamilton is Ferrari's 'Only Chance'

Smedley, who spent 10 seasons at Maranello including eight as Felipe Massa's race engineer, took the hard line. He argued that Ferrari's only realistic path to the 2026 drivers' championship was to immediately prioritise Lewis Hamilton over Leclerc .

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.