Otmar Szafnauer advises Ferrari to support Charles Leclerc

Former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has advised Ferrari management to avoid formal interventions with Charles Leclerc during his current competitive struggle alongside Lewis Hamilton. Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast, Szafnauer suggested that instead of holding mid-season performance reviews, the team should focus on offering support.

As the season progresses, Ferrari holds second place in the constructors' championship with 307 points, trailing Mercedes by 72 points. In the drivers' standings, Lewis Hamilton sits second with 169 points following a victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while Leclerc holds fourth place with 138 points.

Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley noted that Leclerc appears to be facing a rare situation where his teammate holds a clear advantage. Smedley suggested that Leclerc's dissatisfaction with car components, specifically related to the braking system, may have contributed to his recent difficulties in finding his rhythm.