Former Formula 1 driver Davide Valsecchi has delivered sharp criticism towards Charles Leclerc following the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, stating the Ferrari driver, alongside teammate Lewis Hamilton, ‘behaved like children’ during their opening-lap clash. Valsecchi expressed deep disappointment, arguing that the incident let down the ‘enormous Ferrari crowd’ at Monza.
The Italian Grand Prix saw an immediate intra-team battle unfold as Hamilton attempted to overtake Leclerc into Turn 1. Hamilton was subsequently pushed wide on the exit of the chicane, losing multiple positions.
Leclerc’s race concluded prematurely on Lap 2 after a separate incident. He crashed out following a battle with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, experiencing a 60G impact at the Parabolica.
Valsecchi’s comments, made on the F1 Nation podcast, highlighted the stature of both drivers. He described Hamilton as one of the greatest in Formula 1 and Leclerc as an immense talent deserving of a world championship.
Leclerc has faced a challenging 2026 season, with the current generation of cars reportedly not suiting his aggressive driving style. He has been involved in several crashes and struggled with braking performance earlier in the year.
The Monegasque driver initially attempted to adapt to Hamilton’s setup direction but later reverted to his own approach. This change coincided with a resurgence in his performance, including a victory at the British Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari for the 2025 season has also introduced new dynamics within the team. Reports indicate Hamilton has been pushing for personnel changes and a more defined leadership role within the Scuderia.
Internal tension and a reported ‘power struggle’ have emerged regarding the management of both high-profile drivers. Team principal Fred Vasseur is under increasing pressure to balance their ambitions.
Beyond Valsecchi, other analysts have also scrutinized Leclerc’s 2026 performance. Italian journalists Pino Allievi and Giorgio Terruzzi pointed to the new F1 regulations, particularly the demands of energy management, as contributing factors to his difficulties.
British F1 analyst Peter Windsor also offered a severe assessment of Leclerc’s driving, characterizing it as ‘dangerous, unpredictable and unfair’. This drew a strong response from Italian technical journalist Federico Albano.
The incident at Ferrari’s home race in Monza, where Kimi Antonelli secured victory, underscored the operational challenges facing the team. Hamilton himself stated that Ferrari had ‘missed its opportunity to shape F1 title fight’ after the disappointing Grand Prix.
“We’ve just lost so much ground to them on points,” Hamilton said. “It’s far too late for that, for those decisions [about the approach between the drivers] to come. It’s a number of weeks too late.”
The ongoing situation places significant focus on Vasseur’s strategy for managing the competitive pairing of Leclerc and Hamilton as the 2026 season progresses.
