In 2025, Ferrari will enter a new era as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton team up, creating one of the most formidable driver lineups in recent Formula 1 history.
Ferrari’s announcement earlier this year that Hamilton would leave Mercedes to join Leclerc shocked the racing world, setting the stage for a battle between two of the sport’s elite drivers in the same car.
Leclerc, a seven-time race winner, acknowledges the significant challenge of competing against Hamilton, a seven-time world champion. “I will be super curious to see what he has done right for all his career to have had all the success that he’s had,” Leclerc said, according to ESPN. “He has very little weaknesses—well actually, I don’t know any weaknesses of Lewis. He’s a super strong driver, always there, super fast, super consistent.”
Despite the daunting prospect of competing with one of F1’s most significant drivers, Leclerc sees the partnership as an opportunity to grow.
“It will be super interesting for me to learn from Lewis as much as showing what I am capable of in the same car as Lewis. These two things motivate me a lot,” he said.
The past and future for Leclerc
Leclerc’s determination to improve has been evident since he entered F1 in 2018, debuting with Alfa Romeo before joining Ferrari in 2019.
Throughout his time at the Scuderia, he has gone head-to-head with top-tier teammates like four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, finding success and evolving as a driver. Leclerc is no stranger to competing with elite drivers and embraces the challenge of having Hamilton by his side. “Since I got into Formula 1, I have been very lucky. Instead of thinking that I wish I had a number two driver as a teammate, I have always thought it is so much better to have the best as your teammate. With Carlos, with Seb, with Lewis, I have had the very, very fastest that have pushed me forward.”
This competitive mindset is accompanied by mutual respect between Leclerc and Hamilton, which Leclerc believes will help build a solid working relationship. The two drivers have grown closer since the announcement of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari.
“Actually, since the announcement with Ferrari, we spoke a lot more about our communal passion outside of racing rather than racing itself. It’s cool, we have a very good relationship and I’m sure it will stay that way,” Leclerc explained.
Leclerc is clear about the priorities ahead, noting that despite the fierce competition that is likely to unfold within Ferrari, both drivers are ultimately working toward the same goal. “Even though I am sure it is going to be a competitive battle, we are here to work for Ferrari, and in this there are no doubts,” he said. “He is a huge professional, I have so much respect for him, and we already have a really good relationship.”
Ferrari’s progress
While Leclerc is intrigued by the prospect of competing directly with Hamilton, he remains focused on his own development and Ferrari’s overall progress. “I don’t really think about what are the expectations, because, for me, I have just got to focus on what I have to do. I always like to focus a lot more on the process to try and achieve great things instead of thinking about the great things and then thinking about the process,” he said.
Leclerc’s optimism for the future is palpable, but he knows the road ahead will be challenging. The 26-year-old is eager to learn from Hamilton’s vast experience and use that knowledge to push himself further. For Ferrari, this partnership promises to be a thrilling chapter, as both drivers aim to bring the prestigious team back to its former glory.
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