Hamilton Dominates First Ferrari Duel as....

Hamilton Dominates First Ferrari Duel as….read more

Lewis Hamilton has secured a resounding victory over Charles Leclerc in their first head-to-head as Ferrari teammates—though not on the racetrack just yet. In a recent GPFans poll, Hamilton’s return to an iconic yellow helmet design crushed Leclerc’s Monaco-inspired red-and-white look, securing a staggering 79% of the vote.

This early triumph, though aesthetic rather than athletic, could be an ominous sign for Leclerc as he prepares to battle a seven-time world champion in identical machinery. Ferrari’s star-studded pairing has already generated enormous buzz, with fans eagerly anticipating a potential title showdown between the two Scuderia drivers—assuming, of course, Ferrari delivers a car capable of fighting at the front.

A New Era in Red

The world got its first glimpse of Hamilton and Leclerc as teammates when they debuted their new Ferrari race suits in January 2025. Since then, the duo has already hit the track in Barcelona for testing, where they not only showcased their raw speed but also unveiled their fresh helmet designs for the upcoming season.

Leclerc opted for a classic red-and-white scheme, paying tribute to his Monegasque heritage. Meanwhile, Hamilton took a trip down memory lane, reviving his iconic yellow helmet—a color scheme he previously sported when making his debuts with both McLaren and Mercedes.

Hamilton’s choice is more than just a nod to the past; it carries a certain mystique. His two previous stints at new teams started with test crashes—McLaren in 2007 and Mercedes in 2013—only for him to go on and win the championship the following year. True to form, the Briton maintained that streak by crashing during Ferrari’s Barcelona test, sparking speculation that history could be poised to repeat itself.

Crushing Defeat for Leclerc in First Fan Battle

While official racing action is still weeks away, Hamilton has already outshined Leclerc in one contest. GPFans ran a poll asking F1 enthusiasts which of the two Ferrari drivers had the best helmet design for 2025. The result? A landslide victory for Hamilton, whose yellow helmet received nearly four times as many votes as Leclerc’s red-and-white look.

This early defeat won’t faze Leclerc too much, but it does hint at the monumental challenge ahead. Sharing a team with a driver as decorated and influential as Hamilton is no small task, and with the Brit already winning over the fans, Leclerc must ensure he asserts himself where it really matters—on the track.

Looking Ahead: The Battle Begins

With their first official Ferrari showdown now in the books—albeit in a fan poll rather than a race—the focus now shifts to the on-track battle. Both drivers will return to Barcelona on February 4 and 5 for Pirelli’s 2026 tyre test, before finally getting behind the wheel of their 2025 Ferrari challenger in Bahrain’s all-important pre-season testing from February 26-28.

Ferrari’s SF-24 will be under the spotlight as the team aims to break Red Bull’s dominance and mount a serious championship challenge. But perhaps the most intense rivalry of the year won’t be between Ferrari and Red Bull—but within Ferrari itself.

With Hamilton eager to cement his legacy in red and Leclerc determined to prove he’s Ferrari’s true leader, the stage is set for one of the most thrilling intra-team battles Formula 1 has seen in years.

And if history is anything to go by, Hamilton’s lucky yellow helmet may be the first sign that he’s ready to add another remarkable chapter to his already legendary career.