Lewis Hamilton 'team leader' position emerges as Charles Leclerc issued instruction

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has stated Charles Leclerc must use the upcoming races to “re-establish” himself following Lewis Hamilton’s recent surge in form.

Hamilton claimed victory in Barcelona last Sunday, securing his first race win as a Ferrari driver.

The result continued an impressive run for the seven-time world champion, as prior to his race win, he had secured three podium finishes in the opening six rounds.

While Hamilton celebrated his triumph in Spain, Leclerc was left disappointed after retiring late in the race due to a significant car issue.

Brundle believes Hamilton has now positioned himself as the “team leader” at Ferrari, despite Leclerc’s long-standing role within the Italian squad.

“A lap after [Kimi] Antonelli retired, the unfortunate Leclerc also had to park his Ferrari,” Brundle wrote in his Sky F1 column.

“He's had a torrid time of late and he needs a very strong performance in the upcoming Austria and Silverstone races to re-establish himself because Hamilton is looking like the clear team leader now. 

“Lewis' last three race results read second, second, first.”

Hamilton's race on Sunday was aided by the timing of a virtual safety car, which allowed him to get a cheap pit stop and emerge back ahead in the lead ahead of George Russell.

However, as Hamilton stretched out a significant lead over his former team-mate in the closing laps, Brundle is confident the seven-time champion would have emerged victorious regardless of the intervention.

“Would he have won regardless of saving 10 seconds on that third and final stop? 

“It's hard to be certain because he would have needed to overtake Norris and the two Mercedes ordinarily.

“But my feeling is that he would have won anyway, such was his pace and tyre advantage in the closing stages.”