Charles Leclerc called his fight with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix exciting, praised Hamilton’s performance and said he expected more battles between them. Hamilton finished third in Shanghai on 15 March; Leclerc finished fourth.
What Leclerc said after the China GP
In Formula 1’s post-race publication of Ferrari’s team comments, Leclerc described a race shaped by close fights and strategic use of the cars’ energy systems.
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“It was a really exciting race with a lot of fights. These new cars are really fun to race, it’s all about tactics and energy deployment, and you can really play with that to get ahead of your competitors.”
He also praised Hamilton’s weekend and result, and anticipated more on-track contests between the teammates:
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“Lewis was strong all weekend, so it’s not a surprise he’s P3, he deserves it. We had some great fights, and I am sure we will continue to see some more good battles this year.”
Formula 1’s report with the drivers’ comments presents the exchange as an enjoyable, hard-fought race—not a feud or a reprimand.
What happened between Hamilton and Leclerc?
The Ferrari drivers contested position in multiple phases of the Shanghai race. Formula 1’s race-day account says Hamilton took the lead at Turn 1, with Leclerc briefly following him through before losing ground to Kimi Antonelli. The report describes later fights between the Ferrari teammates, but does not provide a complete lap-by-lap account of every pass.
Hamilton ultimately took third, earning his first Grand Prix podium for Ferrari, while Leclerc crossed the line fourth. Those finishing places are the concrete outcome of this particular race; they do not, by themselves, establish a broader season-long performance comparison.
Why Ferrari let them race
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the team trusted both drivers and did not freeze their positions. He described them as professional and explained the decision this way:
“They are professional and I think it makes sense in this situation to let them race.”
Vasseur also said allowing that relationship to develop could help the team improve:
“At end of the day, I think it’s also the best way to build up a team and we need to have this kind of relation in the team to improve.”
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Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix report covers the race result and Vasseur’s explanation. His comments frame the decision as a choice to let two professional teammates compete, not evidence of a private dispute.
Hamilton’s view of the battle
Hamilton also described the race positively, calling it one of his most enjoyable in years and characterizing the contests as hard but fair, particularly his fight with Leclerc. Both drivers’ post-race remarks point to mutual respect and an expectation that they will race each other again.
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