Charles Leclerc to keep a close eye on Lewis Hamilton’s first day at Ferrari
Charles Leclerc has reportedly asked to attend Lewis Hamilton's first simulator session with Ferrari in Maranello.
Lewis Hamilton must use the team’s simulator for the first time this Monday as he begins his preparation for the 2025 F1 season.
The seven-time world champion is then expected to make his track debut later in the week at the wheel of the 2022 Ferrari single-seater. According to FORMULA1.IT, Charles Leclerc wants to observe Lewis Hamilton during this first simulator session with Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc will want to see how the Brit adapts to the Ferrari (at least virtually) and how he works with his new engineers.
Given Lewis Hamilton’s immense experience and legendary CV, the Monegasque will likely be able to learn from his new teammate in anticipation of an important year for both drivers.
This week will be crucial for the seven-time world champion, who will need to establish a good relationship with his new teammates, learn the intricacies of the Ferrari steering wheel, and acclimatize to life in Italy.
Read also: Lewis Hamilton at Maranello next week, according to Ferrari’s CEO
Ferrari aims for the title in 2025
On paper, Ferrari has the best driver pairing on the grid.
The Scuderia finished the year as a close rival to McLaren, winning races in the United States and Mexico. However, the Ferrari remains lagging behind in fast corners compared to McLaren and Red Bull.
The team will also need to improve in qualifying, where tire warming was a key weakness last year. The new engineer Loïc Serra has been tasked with solving these issues, particularly on a single lap.
Loïc Serra focused on the suspension to fully exploit this year’s Pirelli tires on a fast lap.
Although Ferrari was more competitive in the race, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggled to consistently compete with Lando Norris and Max Verstappen during qualifying.
