Charles Leclerc has blazing fast single-lap speed. But there is a slight problem. Yeah, we want our favourite drivers to be polite and nice and good to the media or the fans. But is Leclarc “too” polite?
You see, now that seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the Ferrari garage, people are looking closely at Leclerc’s mindset. Does he have the ruthless edge you need to win a Formula 1 World Championship? Fans and former drivers are starting to ask that exact question.
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LecLerc’s “Labrador” Reputation
People have criticized his temperament before. Back in 2022, Leclerc finished second in the Drivers’ Championship to Max Verstappen. After that season ended, former World Touring Car driver Tom Coronel seriously questioned his competitive fire. Coronel called Leclerc “an ideal son-in-law, a Labrador” (via formula1news.co.uk). He argued that Leclerc just didn’t show enough emotion when Ferrari made bad strategy calls. He added that Leclerc is “much too neat” to act like a true top dog.
Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos backed up this idea. He talked about the upcoming battle between Leclerc and Hamilton on Ziggo Sport. Doornbos was incredibly blunt. “Leclerc is too nice to be World Champion,” he stated during the Chinese GP weekend broadcast. Doornbos said a driver like Hamilton or Verstappen would never act like that. If Ferrari builds the best car, Doornbos predicted that Hamilton would eat him alive.
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Playing the Team Game? And The Las Vegas Boiling Point
Critics often look at how Leclerc treats the Ferrari pit wall compared to his former teammate, Carlos Sainz. Sainz would frequently challenge team orders to get better results. For instance, Sainz won his first race at the 2022 British Grand Prix by disobeying a direct request to stay behind Leclerc. Sainz even went on to add, “Well, Ferrari won, I won, so for sure it was not the wrong decision.”
But Leclerc usually acts completely differently. He often takes the blame for Ferrari’s mistakes or just agrees with whatever the pit wall says. Even 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg noticed this trait. Rosberg questioned if Leclerc is too placid. Speaking to Sky F1 about the Hamilton rivalry, Rosberg said, “Charles doesn’t seem like someone who goes into conflict too much with his team-mates” (via Skysports.com).
However, Leclerc is not totally blind to the problem. He knows his respect for the team can ruin his own races. His frustration fully boiled over at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. During the cool-down lap, Leclerc got on the radio and let loose.
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“Being nice fs me all the f***ing time — all the f***ing time,” he yelled to his race engineer, Bryan Bozzi. Leclerc then explained the real issue. “It’s not even being nice, it’s just being respectful,” he added (via Racefans)
Some fans defend Leclerc. They argue his polite public face is just good media training. But as the 2026 season heats up against Hamilton, Leclerc will face his biggest mental test yet. He has pure speed. Now he just has to prove that a nice guy can actually conquer Formula 1.
