Charles Leclerc makes ‘extremely interesting’ prediction for Lewis Hamilton Ferrari partnership

In 2025, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be team-mates at Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc has predicted that it will be both “amazing” and “extremely interesting” to share a car with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next year.

Before the season began, it was announced that Hamilton would be joining Ferrari in a significant shift in the driver market, replacing Carlos Sainz who is set to move to Williams in 2025.

Charles Leclerc ready for ‘really big challenge’ of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari

Hamilton and Leclerc will join forces for the Scuderia in a partnership that will see Ferrari’s long-heralded junior talent, in his seventh season as a driver at Maranello, go up against the sport’s most statistically successful driver in a reunion with Fred Vasseur as team boss, under whom he drove for ART Grand Prix as he rose through the junior categories.

The current Ferrari driver has been asked about this subject several times this season. However, he views it as a chance to bring out the best in himself and his team when he joins next year.

“I mean, obviously, extremely positive,” Leclerc told the Beyond the Grid podcast when asked what kind of impact Hamilton will bring to Ferrari.

“I believe that when a champion like Lewis joins any team, it inspires and motivates each and every team member.”

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“So that will be, obviously, the first really positive effect it will have on Ferrari, and obviously he will come also, along with all the experience that he’s had over the years with Mercedes, a different way of working, a different vision, and this is always benefiting a team.

Apart from the obvious, it’s going to be a fantastic experience for me. I’ll be sharing a car with the most successful F1 driver in history. This presents an incredible learning opportunity for me, as I’ll be learning from one of the greatest. It also poses a significant challenge and motivation for me to surpass Lewis and showcase my capabilities.

If Leclerc wants to outperform his team-mate next season, which is the primary objective of any driver, it would entail defeating one of the most accomplished drivers in the sport.

When questioned about his feelings if he were to defeat Hamilton in the same car, he maintained a cautious stance.

“The Monégasque driver responded, ‘I don’t know and, frankly, I haven’t even thought about that yet.'”

“I simply concentrate on improving myself and aim to be the best version of me by the time he arrives. Of course, I strive to be the best version of me every time I’m on track. However, with Lewis joining the team, he will certainly set a high standard, so it’s crucial for me to perform at my highest level. We’ll see how it unfolds.”

“I’ll do my best, and he will do his best as well. We’ll see what happens, and if I succeed, I can tell you how it feels.”

Leclerc stated that although he and his partner have already walked their dogs, Leo and Roscoe, together in Silverstone’s paddock, they haven’t yet spent significant time getting to know each other properly.

Leclerc, when questioned about his familiarity with the seven-time World Champion, stated that they have common interests and plan to spend more time together in the forthcoming months and years.

“Everything is relative, but within the racing field, he is certainly one of the drivers we’ve recently conversed with most about our passions, particularly music and fashion,” he stated.

It was beneficial to discuss this topic, particularly off the track, though we haven’t spent much time together yet. But naturally, once he becomes part of the team and shares in our additional responsibilities off the track, we’ll get to know each other better.

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