Hamilton's 'psychological tactics' against Leclerc are in action - Schumacher

      Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited first victory with Ferrari has increased the pressure on his teammate Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion ended a winless streak dating back to his final years at Mercedes with a dominant performance in Barcelona, marking a significant turnaround that has propelled him to P2 in the drivers’ championship, trailing only Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, Leclerc's season has taken a downturn despite his recent long-term contract extension with Ferrari. Following a contentious crash in Monaco, which he attributed to Brembo and led him to switch to Hamilton’s Carbon Industrie brake materials, the Monegasque faced a serious qualifying crash in Barcelona, for which he accepted full responsibility. After Sunday’s race, Leclerc acknowledged his struggles. "I’m not at the level I want to be at; I need to find more performance," he stated.

      1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve suggests Hamilton’s resurgence may have major implications for Ferrari. "It’s a contract with better terms, practically a lifetime contract," he noted regarding Leclerc’s recent extension. "But who’s actually scoring points for Ferrari? Who’s competing for the top positions?" Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Hamilton has already established a psychological edge. "Now the mind games between the two are beginning," he commented to Sky Deutschland. "It’s evident they’re not exactly on friendly terms, maybe similar to the dynamic between Rosberg and Hamilton in the past." Schumacher feels Hamilton’s statement about "remembering who I am" wasn’t only directed at his critics. "Currently, Leclerc is simply putting too much pressure on himself," he remarked. "Lewis is handling it very strategically. He knows that under normal circumstances, he can’t outpace Leclerc, but he’s trying to apply a bit of pressure. Charles doesn’t grasp why he no longer has that two-thirds of a second advantage and is starting to push the car too hard." Schumacher mentioned that he recognized this pattern from his own F1 experience alongside Juan Pablo Montoya at Williams, noting, "You just keep driving and pushing, and either you overdo it or you make mistakes like Charles did."

      With Hamilton now at P2 in the championship ahead of George Russell, Schumacher believes Mercedes will face a considerably tougher challenge than earlier in the season. "It will definitely get tougher for Mercedes," he asserted. However, Leclerc maintains that he feels no jealousy over Hamilton’s recent success. "I’m happy for the team because they truly deserve it, and Lewis has worked incredibly hard and is now more comfortable with the car," he said. "Now it’s up to me to simply work. There’s no envy, to be completely honest, but I think the disappointment is the feeling I’ll take home with me, so now I have to reset and hope for a smoother weekend in Austria, and then we’ll see." Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is among those pleased to see Hamilton back at the top. "It’s a sign of respect when you have that legacy in the sport," he told DAZN. "It shows you’re fighting in tough times when people suggested you should leave. To be there competing and winning is remarkable. I’m very happy."