Lewis Hamilton seems to bring ambition to Charles Leclerc

After Lewis Hamilton’s unexpected departure from Mercedes, the seven-time British world champion driver will join Ferrari. He will take the remaining seat alongside Charles Leclerc, who will be his teammate for the coming seasons. With an impressive track record, the Monegasque driver could certainly gain motivation.

There is still much to learn.

Ferrari has made a big move for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Charles Leclerc is set to welcome Lewis Hamilton as his new teammate in the team. After sharing the spotlight with George Russell up until this year, the world of motorsport will see one of the greatest drivers leaving Mercedes. The team with which he achieved historic success. This change also means the departure of Carlos Sainz from Ferrari. On his side, the Spaniard will join Williams alongside Alexander Albon for several seasons.

Charles Leclerc joined the team in red colors in 2019. He, who has been loyal to the team until now, has paired up with several Grand Prix winners, including four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Next year, the driver will welcome another legend of the motorsport, news that seems to make him particularly excited. When a seven-time world champion joins your team, it’s always great news. It’s super interesting and super motivating for me, he said in the media.

Beyond the challenge of being alongside a talented driver like Lewis Hamilton, for Charles Leclerc, it is also an extraordinary opportunity. Rather than see the announcement as a threat, he sees it as a chance to learn from one of the best. « I can learn from the best in this sport and further develop myself. It is also very motivating to show what I can do against Lewis in the same car. These are the two reasons why I am looking forward to this collaboration,” acknowledges the Monegasque.

A possibility that was already public

If up to now, the paddock had never considered the arrival of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, on his side, Charles Leclerc was aware of his transfer when he signed his own multi-year contract. Even if it was only a possibility at the time, the Scuderia chose the path of transparency by clearly stating its intentions to recruit him. « I knew at the time that it was an option, but I didn’t ask for details,” he explained. « However, everyone was very honest with me. When you integrate a driver like Lewis Hamilton into the team, it sends a strong message. »

The arrival of a driver with such a career could make more than one person on the grid tremble. If he has only won a few races since his last world championship title, he remains a driver with experience. An experience that Charles Leclerc may be lacking. Therefore, Lewis Hamilton’s presence is a double-edged sword for the duo. If the Briton were to regain his dominance in motorsport, it would significantly increase his position in the sport’s rankings. Conversely, if Charles Leclerc manages to prevail against his teammate, it would enhance the Monegasque’s reputation.

What is certain is that Charles Leclerc is not planning to let himself be pushed around. His goal is clear: to beat Lewis Hamilton. As a driver, I don’t care if I’m two tenths behind Lewis or someone else, life wouldn’t be pleasant. If I’m behind my teammate, it’s always frustrating. No matter the situation, as a driver, you want to be in front,” says the current Ferrari driver.

He has already experienced this situation when he was in a team with Sebastian Vettel in 2019 and 2020. “I hated it when he beat me, even in my first year at Ferrari,” admitted Charles Leclerc. “I knew he had a lot of experience, but regardless of the situation, I hate losing.” Now, the former Sauber driver is ready to take on the challenge. The potential rivalry that will ensue could well help Ferrari return to the forefront.