News Summary
- Charles Leclerc outscored Lewis Hamilton in three of the four five-race periods analysed across the first 20 Grands Prix.
- Hamilton leads the Ferrari teammate battle by 261 points to 249, thanks largely to a 36-point advantage in the second period.
- Leclerc has been the stronger scorer in the latest five races, but Hamilton remains ahead with three rounds remaining.
Charles Leclerc has outscored Lewis Hamilton in three of the four five-race periods of the 2026 Formula 1 season, yet the Monegasque remains 12 points behind his Ferrari teammate in the championship. The surprising contrast reveals how Hamilton’s strongest stretch of the year has outweighed Leclerc’s greater consistency across the four periods.
An analysis by GRANDE PRÊMIO of the opening 20 Grands Prix shows Leclerc scoring more points in the first, third and fourth groups of five races. Hamilton, however, built a decisive advantage during the second period, collecting 87 points against Leclerc’s 51.
That 36-point difference remains the defining factor in Ferrari’s internal championship standings, even though Leclerc has reduced the deficit in the second half of the season.
Leclerc vs Hamilton: Ferrari’s points every five races
| Driver | R1–5 | R6–10 | R11–15 | R16–20 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. LECLERC | 75 | 51 | 53 | 70 | 249 |
| L. HAMILTON | 72 | 87 | 40 | 62 | 261 |
Leclerc began the championship slightly ahead, scoring 75 points against Hamilton’s 72 in the opening five races. The difference was modest, suggesting that Ferrari’s drivers were initially producing comparable results.
The second period changed the picture. Hamilton scored 87 points, his strongest five-race return of the season, while Leclerc managed only 51. The British driver gained 36 points on his teammate in those races, transforming a three-point deficit into a 33-point advantage.
Leclerc subsequently responded with 53 points against Hamilton’s 40 in the third period and 70 against 62 in the latest five races. Across those final ten Grands Prix, the Monegasque has scored 123 points to Hamilton’s 102, recovering 21 points.
Yet the championship standings still favour Hamilton.
Why Hamilton leads despite losing three comparisons
The numbers illustrate the difference between winning more individual periods and accumulating the highest total.
Leclerc has been ahead in three separate five-race comparisons, but his combined advantage across those periods amounts to 24 points: three in the first, 13 in the third and eight in the fourth.
Hamilton’s 36-point advantage in the second period was greater than all three of Leclerc’s gains combined.
Consequently, the seven-time world champion remains ahead by 12 points, despite being outscored by his teammate in the majority of the season’s five-race blocks.
The comparison does not establish that Leclerc has been faster throughout 2026. Championship points reflect race finishes, sprint results, reliability, incidents and penalties, rather than pure qualifying or race pace.
Nevertheless, it reveals that Leclerc has generally accumulated points more effectively during the periods outside Hamilton’s strongest run.
Ferrari’s recent results also show that both drivers remain competitive. Leclerc scored 70 points across the latest five races, the third-highest total in the field, while Hamilton collected 62, the fourth-highest.
Those performances helped Ferrari score 132 points during the same period, ahead of Mercedes’ 114.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO’s analysis of all 20 races showed, Ferrari has become increasingly competitive against the championship-winning team, even as Red Bull has emerged as the strongest recent points scorer.
Ferrari’s internal rivalry creates questions for 2027
The statistical comparison arrives at a sensitive moment for Ferrari, whose drivers have already clashed while fighting for positions.
Hamilton and Leclerc’s opening-lap battle in Mexico prompted discussions with team principal Frédéric Vasseur, who has continued to support allowing both drivers to compete without a publicly designated number one.
Max Verstappen subsequently questioned that philosophy, arguing that he would never manage a team with two drivers holding equal priority. His warning about Ferrari’s Hamilton-Leclerc rivalry added another dimension to the debate.
The numbers help explain why a clear hierarchy would be difficult to justify solely through championship results.
Hamilton leads the overall standings, but Leclerc has scored more points in three of the four periods and has been the stronger Ferrari driver over the latest ten races.
With three Grands Prix remaining, neither driver has established an overwhelming statistical advantage across the entire season.
For 2027, the question is whether Ferrari can preserve that internal competitiveness while preventing incidents that compromise its constructors’ championship prospects.
The team has already demonstrated an ability to outscore Mercedes during the most recent five races. Converting that progress into a sustained title challenge could make the management of Hamilton and Leclerc even more important.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the 2026 Formula 1 championship as Ferrari prepares for the final three rounds and the 2027 season.
FAQ
Has Charles Leclerc scored more points than Lewis Hamilton in 2026?
No. Hamilton leads Leclerc by 261 points to 249 after 20 Grands Prix, despite Leclerc outscoring him in three of the four five-race periods.
Which five-race period made the difference for Hamilton?
The second period, covering races six to ten. Hamilton scored 87 points against Leclerc’s 51, gaining 36 points on his teammate.
Who has scored more points for Ferrari in the last five races?
Leclerc has scored 70 points compared with Hamilton’s 62, giving him an eight-point advantage during the most recent period.
Alternative headlines
- Hamilton leads Leclerc by 12 points despite losing three of four F1 periods
- Ferrari’s 2026 paradox: Leclerc wins most comparisons, Hamilton leads standings
- Leclerc outperforms Hamilton in latest ten F1 races but cannot erase earlier deficit
Tags: Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Formula 1
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Meta description: Leclerc outscored Hamilton in three of four five-race periods, but Hamilton still leads Ferrari’s 2026 F1 points battle by 12.
