Lewis Hamilton issues 'don't want' response over key Charles Leclerc difference

Lewis Hamilton confirmed after qualifying fifth for the British Grand Prix that he does not "want" the exact set-up being run by Charles Leclerc.

In recent grands prix, the seven-time world champion has moved closer to his Ferrari team-mate's set-up, having often found himself adrift of him. 

Despite having moved closer to what Leclerc is running on his SF-25, it remains not identical, with Hamilton insistent that he does not want his car set-up exactly how Leclerc's is. 

So far, it has worked to his advantage at Silverstone, having topped first practice, Q2 and qualified ahead of Leclerc. 

Hamilton qualified exactly one-tenth adrift of Oscar Piastri in second, highlighting the progress made by the 40-year-old. 

Had it not been for understeer in the final corners on his last Q3 lap, the 105-time race winner would have secured a front row start alongside Max Verstappen.

With a mixed weather race looking likely following torrential rainfall, Hamilton will fancy his chances of a 10th British GP win.

When asked if his set-up was similar to Leclerc's, Hamilton told select media including RacingNews365: "We're not far apart. We're not far apart.

"Our setups are different, but more using that [same] method. So it's more in that direction, but he is on a different setup. 

"He's got something quite a bit different to me, which I don't want to go to, but I was happy with my car. Yeah."