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Ferrari should back 'extraordinary' Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc as number one driver, Damon Hill tells Sky Sports' The F1 Show
Catch up on all the major talking points from the Sao Paulo GP by listening to the latest episode of The F1 Show podcast; Damon Hill and Anthony Davidson join Simon Lazenby to discuss Ferrari's issues, Mercedes' completing their title double, and Lando Norris' victory in Brazil
Tuesday 10 November 2026 18:08, UK
Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has insisted Ferrari should back the "extraordinary" Lewis Hamilton over his team-mate Charles Leclerc if they want to have a chance of winning next year's drivers' title.
Ferrari's handling of their drivers came under increased scrutiny earlier this month following the Mexico City Grand Prix when a first-lap clash between Hamilton and Leclerc, running in first and second respectively at the time, cost the Italian team a likely one-two, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen going on to win the race.
Hamilton, who had started on pole and led on the approach to the first corner, was highly critical of Leclerc after the race for what he perceived to be an overly aggressive approach against a team-mate. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur also expressed his displeasure at the incident.
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The seven-time world champion said any issues he had with Leclerc had been "squashed" following a conversation at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which came the weekend after the race in Mexico.
Hill, the 1996 world champion, wrote on social media following the race in Mexico that Italian squad should make Hamilton their number one driver for the 2027 season and that "Lewis will deliver for Ferrari if they back him 100 per cent."
Appearing on the latest episode of Sky Sports' The F1 Show following the triple-header of races, Hill explained his position.
"They [Ferrari] have invested all this in Lewis, they've got him on board, he is a massive name in the sport," the 1996 world champion said.
"If they have a competitive car next year, they could win the Drivers' Championship and the Constructors' Championship, and I can't see how they're going to win it if they have two drivers currently behaving the way they do, if Charles is constantly racing against Lewis like that.
"So, you have to make a decision as a team principal how you're going to enter into the fray. And I think it makes sense to me to put all your eggs behind Lewis.
"You've got him there anyway. You've gone through all the pain and the investment to get him there. It would be a huge story, clearly. His eighth world title is just sitting there.
"Now Charles might say, well, this is totally unfair, you know, I've been here longer. But yes, you have been there longer, but look at the results.
"Lewis has got a valid point, which is he's there to make them win as a team, not just be a Ferrari driver."
'Hamilton has rebuilt himself after being crushed by 2021 title loss'
After claiming the most recent of his seven titles in 2020, Hamilton was controversially denied a record eighth triumph as he lost out to Max Verstappen at the final race of the 2021 season.
That coincided with a drop-off in performance for the Mercedes team that Hamilton had won six of his seven titles with, which ultimately played a part in the Brit deciding to make a blockbuster switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
Hamilton's last campaign with Mercedes and first with Ferrari suggested he was on the decline as he was outperformed by former team-mate George Russsell and then Leclerc, but he has returned to form in 2026.
With the all-new cars for this season appearing to better suit him, Hamilton claimed his first grand prix victory for Ferrari in Barcelona to reignite hope he could once more contend for the title.
Leclerc, who spent just one season at Sauber before joining Ferrari as a 21-year-old, has claimed nine grand prix wins across his eight campaigns with the Italian team.
Hill added: "I think there's a gravitas that Lewis has. I mean, don't forget what he was like last year. He was crushed.
"He's been crushed since Abu Dhabi, in effect, you know, in 2021. He's been fighting his way back. He's performed incredibly well this year, much better than I thought, considering I thought it was going to be very difficult, but he's rebuilt himself.
"He is an extraordinary individual. And I think he has, and he's got pole positions and won races this year in a Ferrari. Who would have said that was possible last year?
"And I think we need to settle this in the team because there's a political problem in that team. For me, it seems like there's factions within the team that are shooting for one side or the other.
"You can't have that if you're going to be an effective competitor against the Red Bulls, McLaren and Mercedes."
Davidson: Number one status has to be earned
Sky Sports F1 pundit Anthony Davidson, appearing on The F1 Show alongside Hill, questioned whether Hamilton has earned number one status over Leclerc at Ferrari.
Hamilton is fourth in the 2026 drivers' standings, a place ahead of Leclerc with just 12 points separating the pair.
Davidson compared the situation to that of Verstappen at Red Bull, where the four-time world champion has long received preferential treatment over his team-mates.
Davidson said: "Do you think, though, with Red Bull, that it's not like they give Max better equipment? He has, without question, earned that status in the team through his dominance of lap times alone.
"And it's pretty much every time. A bit like [Michael] Schumacher did against either [Rubens] Barrichello or [Felipe] Massa or [Eddie] Irvine.
"It was just every time he is unbeatable. And you earn that. You have to earn that status.
"I'm not comfortable with the fact, thinking of Charles, the speed he had particularly last year. I wouldn't be comfortable with the fact if you just say the number one in the team is Lewis and Charles, no matter where he is, you finish behind.
"That doesn't sit easy with me. I think to a certain degree, you have to earn that status in the team."
Formula 1 next hits The Strip for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1 from November 20-22. Stream Sky Sports with NOW
