‘It’s going to be...for me’ – Leclerc on Hamilton joining Ferrari as...

‘It’s going to be…for me’ – Leclerc on Hamilton joining Ferrari as he opens up on times he ‘hated’ Sainz. Read more

Charles Leclerc is anticipating a major shift at Ferrari with the upcoming arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2025. The seven-time world champion’s move to Ferrari, ending his 12-year tenure with Mercedes, sent shockwaves through the F1 community when it was announced in February. Hamilton will join Ferrari on a multi-year deal, and Carlos Sainz will leave the team to make way for the Briton. This means Leclerc will be racing alongside one of Formula 1’s most successful drivers, a prospect he views with both excitement and a sense of challenge.

During an interview on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Leclerc expressed optimism about Hamilton’s potential impact on the Ferrari team, citing the wealth of experience Hamilton brings with him. “When a champion like Lewis joins any team, it brings a lot of motivation to every single person,” Leclerc remarked. He believes Hamilton’s background at Mercedes, where he won multiple world titles, will introduce new approaches to working and a fresh perspective that can only benefit Ferrari’s performance.

Leclerc sees the arrival of Hamilton not only as a boost for the team but also as a significant personal challenge. He acknowledged that having such a decorated teammate would push him to elevate his own game. “Obviously for me, it’s going to be amazing because I’ll have in the same car as me the most successful driver in F1 history,” he said. Leclerc explained that this scenario would provide an invaluable opportunity to learn from Hamilton, while also serving as a benchmark to measure his own performance against.

The Monegasque driver emphasized that while it would be an incredible learning experience, it would also motivate him to compete at the highest level. “It will be a big challenge and motivation to beat Lewis and to show what I’m capable of,” he added. Leclerc appears fully aware that matching or outpacing Hamilton on the track will be crucial to his own development and standing within the team.

As for his current teammate, Carlos Sainz, Leclerc reflected on their time together, which will come to an end after the 2024 season. Sainz is set to move to Williams in 2025 after spending four years alongside Leclerc at Ferrari. Despite their competitive nature on track, Leclerc spoke warmly of their relationship, describing Sainz as someone with whom he shares many interests and fond memories. However, Leclerc also admitted that there have been moments of friction between the two during intense on-track battles.

“There have been many moments where, inside the helmet, I hated him and he hated me because we didn’t view the situation in the same way,” Leclerc shared. However, he was quick to point out that they always resolved their differences through open discussions and mutual understanding. He also noted that their shared interests outside of racing have helped strengthen their bond, creating lasting memories over their time as teammates.

While Leclerc will miss his partnership with Sainz, the prospect of racing alongside Hamilton presents a new and exciting chapter for him and Ferrari. With Hamilton’s extensive experience and proven track record, Leclerc believes that the team will be poised to make significant strides, and he is eager to see how this new dynamic unfolds.