Lewis Hamilton admits Ferrari set-up deficit to Charles Leclerc: 'Lots to take away'

Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that he has been losing ground to Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc due to car set-up choices in recent races. The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari in 2025, said there is "lots to take away" from comparing his approach with Leclerc's, particularly in qualifying and race trim. Hamilton's comments come as Leclerc has consistently outperformed him in the opening rounds of the season, raising questions about the Briton's adaptation to the SF-25. The admission underscores the technical challenge Hamilton faces in matching Leclerc's aggressive set-up preferences, which have yielded stronger one-lap pace. With Ferrari locked in a tight battle against McLaren and Red Bull, Hamilton's ability to close the set-up gap could prove decisive for the team's constructors' championship hopes. The next race in Imola offers Hamilton an immediate chance to apply the lessons learned from his teammate.