Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix win increases pressure on Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc isn't looking like Ferrari's No. 1 driver after Lewis Hamilton's victory

Leclerc didn't finish Sunday's race because of a mechanical issue. That capped a frustrating weekend for the driver, who had qualified in 10th after crashing in the practice session. 

This cost him points he needed. The 28-year-old (75 points) is now fourth in the drivers' standings behind Mercedes' George Russell (106), Hamilton (115) and Antonelli (156). He may keep losing traction. 

Leclerc, who hasn't won a race since the 2024 United States Grand Prix, has podiumed just twice this season and finished 17th in Monaco. Surely, the Prancing Horse expected way more from the driver after re-signing him to a multiyear contract on June 3. 

"Internally at Ferrari, they just re-signed Leclerc two races ago for what, the best contract ever? A lifetime contract," 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve told Sky Sports after the race (h/t Motosport.com's Lydia Mee). "But who's actually getting the points? Who's going to the front? Lewis. So that will create a little bit of issues internally as well."

Leclerc acknowledged he must snap out of his funk following the race. 

"[Hamilton has] been really on it and he deserves all of it," he said, via Motorsport.com's Ed Hardy. "Now it's up to me to up my game to find this confidence with this car, to put everything together, and hopefully with clean weekends. 

"It's true also that the last four weekends haven't been very clean technically. Also, for me, we've had quite a lot of issues, so I'm just looking forward to our clean races, taking the rhythm again, and hopefully fighting the front as well."

Since 41-year-old Hamilton signed with Ferrari, the racing outfit hasn't clarified if he or Leclerc is the No. 1 driver. If his teammate doesn't rebound soon, the pecking order will become apparent.