Charles Leclerc has expressed he is eager to learn from his 2025 Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton as he considers the Briton to have no “weaknesses” in Formula 1.
Ferrari announced prior to the 2024 season starting the bombshell that Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz to partner Leclerc, who signed a multi-term deal last winter.
The seven-time champion’s impending move will see F1’s most successful driver and team align as he bids to end Ferrari’s extended title drought dating back to 2008.
Despite interest elsewhere, Leclerc, who developed through the Ferrari ranks, has been adamant that his single ambition is to return the Italian marque to the pinnacle.
But while Hamilton’s arrival has been seen as a dent to his individual aspiration, Leclerc has insisted that the 105-time F1 race winner will bolster Ferrari’s endeavours.
When such a viewpoint was put to him, Leclerc told BBC Sport: “Not at all. Because Ferrari is Ferrari. And they need the best drivers in their cars.
“So, for the benefit of Ferrari, it is completely understandable. For me, I don’t see any negative in that, because it’s Lewis Hamilton.”
Leclerc has harnessed the measure over each team-mate he has been pitted against in the series, including four-time champion Sebastian Vettel and Sainz at Ferrari.
The Monegasque, who has been candid about the lessons he learnt alongside Vettel, has admitted that he is relishing the chance to assess Hamilton’s work up close.
“I need to be convinced that I am the fastest driver when I put the helmet on, but I am really looking forward to it, and it will be super interesting for me,” he added.
“I have always said you learn from every single team-mate you have over your career. When I look at the way he drives – because we always look at each other and data – you don’t really see any weaknesses. And that’s where Lewis is incredible. He’s only got strengths.
“So I’m really looking forward to seeing how he works with his engineers, the feedback, and all of these kinds of things, to learn and become better.”
Hamilton’s move was being branded a masterstroke in the nascent stages of this season as Ferrari emerged as Red Bull’s closest challenger and Mercedes struggled.
However, the tables have turned over recent times as Ferrari has endured issues with recurring bouncing, while Hamilton has bagged two wins in the past three races.
Nevertheless, Leclerc is optimistic that the Maranello-based squad can return to its early-season competitiveness once it resolves the problem with its latest updates.
“In the last few races, we are not exactly where we want to be in terms of performance and that is my main priority – to come back to a performance where we are in the fight for poles and wins,” he outlined.
“I would expect us to be in the fight with McLaren and Red Bull as soon as we maximise the potential of our upgrades on the car.”
I guess Charles forgot lewis’ poor qualifying.
And his inability to give proper feedback to engineers.
And…. There’s the issue with poor wheel to wheel racing……. Going off track ….. Targeting other cars rear tires…….
But uh ya,,, except for that lewis is great. Lololol
All the drivers know that Max is not a very good driver. It is also clear to anyone who understands racing that Danny Ric is the best of all drivers when he has the car he needs