Charles Leclerc needs \u201ca very strong performance\u201d at the upcoming Austrian and British GPs, with Lewis Hamilton seemingly having established himself as the Ferrari team leader.<\/p>\n
That is the warning issued by Sky F1 commentator and pundit Martin Brundle, after Hamilton<\/a> took his recent upturn in form to the next level by winning the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Leclerc, meanwhile, was forced to park his Ferrari.<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton \u2018team leader\u2019 verdict cast by Martin Brundle<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n While Leclerc had the measure of Hamilton throughout much of a challenging first year in Ferrari red for the latter, the tide is starting to turn in F1 2026.<\/p>\n Hamilton scored a first Ferrari podium in China and, in general, has looked more competitive this season. He secured back-to-back P2s in Montreal and Monaco, before taking victory in Barcelona.<\/p>\n It was a record-extending 106th career win, but crucially, his first with Ferrari.<\/p>\n Leclerc, meanwhile, was forced to retire from the Barcelona GP in the closing stages. Leclerc has not finished a grand prix ahead of Hamilton since Miami, though a post-race drive-through penalty, converted into a twenty-second time penalty, dropped Leclerc behind Hamilton in the final classification for that race.<\/p>\n Hamilton is now 40 points ahead of Leclerc in the Drivers\u2019 standings. Brundle warned Leclerc that he must stop the rot.<\/p>\n \u201cA lap after [Kimi] Antonelli retired, the unfortunate Leclerc also had to park his Ferrari,\u201d Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports column<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had a torrid time of late and he needs a very strong performance in the upcoming Austria and Silverstone races to re-establish himself, because Hamilton is looking like the clear team leader now.<\/p>\n \u201cLewis\u2019 last three race results read second, second, first.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Lewis Hamilton from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton title call made as Ferrari urged to back one driver<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Why would he say that?\u2019 \u2013 Sky F1 pundit responds to \u2018stupid\u2019 Lewis Hamilton comment<\/a><\/p>\n Leclerc, speaking with PlanetF1.com and others after the race, said that he \u201clost the power steering\u201d, and had \u201cno gears and no brakes as well,\u201d as he explained his retirement from the Barcelona GP.<\/p>\n Leclerc acknowledged the rough patch which he is going through, and set his sights on joining Hamilton up front after his teammate\u2019s breakthrough Barcelona achievement.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, it\u2019s great for the team, it\u2019s great for Lewis,\u201d said Leclerc.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team has been pushing massively to bring upgrades, and it seems to be working fine, so now I\u2019ve got to be with him up there, which hasn\u2019t been the case since in Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n