Charles Leclerc admitted that he thoroughly enjoyed battling with his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton during the action-packed Chinese Grand Prix, even though the fight ultimately cost him a podium finish. The two drivers delivered one of the most exciting duels of the race as they competed for the final spot on the podium at the Shanghai International Circuit.
During the Grand Prix, Hamilton managed to briefly take the lead early in the race and eventually edged ahead in their internal battle once again. The seven-time world champion later described the event as one of the most enjoyable races he had experienced in a long time. Meanwhile, Leclerc also praised the on-track fight, recalling several intense wheel-to-wheel moments between the pair, including a dramatic exchange of positions through Turns 9 and 10.
The 2026 Formula One regulations also played a role in creating the thrilling contest. With the introduction of features such as overtake mode and reduced “dirty air” in corners, drivers now have greater opportunities to battle for positions over multiple laps. These changes allowed Leclerc and Hamilton to engage in a prolonged and entertaining duel rather than a quick single-corner overtake.
Although Leclerc missed out on a podium finish, he acknowledged that Hamilton had performed better throughout the entire weekend. The Monégasque driver admitted he struggled at times to fully adapt to the Shanghai circuit, while praising his teammate for delivering a consistent performance from the first practice session through to the race. Despite the disappointment, Leclerc emphasized that the battle itself made the race memorable, while also noting that Ferrari still has work to do to close the performance gap to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
