The first half of the 2025 Formula 1 season has been a real challenge for Lewis Hamilton, who is going through one of the toughest moments of his career. The seven-time world champion joined Ferrari as the star signing expected to lead the team’s return to the top, but results have fallen short of expectations. With no podium finishes in 14 Grands Prix and only a single victory in the Chinese Sprint race, the Briton has not hidden his frustration, even describing himself as “absolutely useless” and suggesting the Scuderia “might need to look for another driver.”

These remarks raised concerns both in the media and within the team. However, Charles Leclerc, his teammate and current leading figure in the squad, has taken a firm stance in supporting the veteran driver.

“Lewis is not my target, Ferrari is”

Leclerc, Ferrari’s internal leader this season, stressed that the team’s success must come before any personal rivalry. In comments reported by PlanetF1 and SoyMotor.com, the Monegasque said: “We are a team. As much as I want to finish ahead of Lewis, I want both of us to succeed, and for Ferrari to be back at the top. This weekend was tough for him, but I’m convinced it’s just a one-off.”

After the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Hamilton finished outside the points for the first time in his career, Leclerc kept an optimistic tone about the remainder of the championship. “I’m sure the second half of the season will be much more positive,” he stated. Even earlier in Belgium, he made it clear that his goals were not personal: “My main goal right now is to bring Ferrari to the top, and Lewis is not my target.”

While the Monegasque has maintained consistent results, the Briton has faced unprecedented lows, with qualifying positions as far back as 18th, 16th, and 12th, including the Sprint at Spa-Francorchamps. Despite this, Leclerc insists that his teammate’s talent and commitment are unquestionable.

The team principal, Frédéric Vasseur, also backed Leclerc’s words, admitting they had underestimated the challenge of integrating Hamilton: “He came from 20 years split between Mercedes and McLaren, and it’s not easy to change environments.”

Now, Ferrari heads into the second half of the season with a dual challenge: improving overall performance and helping Hamilton regain his best form. Leclerc’s public support sends a clear message — the priority remains collective success, even in stormy times.