Ferrari ambassador Marc Gene believes the biggest advantage the pairing of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton brings to the Italian Formula 1 squad is a lack of politics.
On paper, Hamilton and Leclerc is one of, if not the most formidable line-up on the F1 grid.
After four years with Carlos Sainz as Leclerc’s team-mate, Ferrari jumped at the chance to sign seven-time F1 Champion Hamilton when he made himself available from Mercedes.
Hamilton has struggled to get to grips with the Ferrari SF-25, with his Sprint victory in China a solitary highlight cast amongst a series of low points.
Still, Gene, who has the benefit of seeing Ferrari up close due to his ambassadorial role, hailed the strength of the Scuderia’s pairing.
“I don’t think you can have a better line-up,” Gene said on the Beyond the Grid podcast.
Leclerc has been leading the way for Ferrari this year and Gene pinpointed how the Monegasque has progressed alongside Sainz, and before him, four-time Champion Sebastian Vettel.
“Charles is at a very good point in his career – he’s matured so much,” Gene said.
“Being the team-mate of Carlos, who’s also very diligent, technically very good, very organised, worked so hard… being the team mate of Seb… Charles has been very lucky to have two such good team-mates.”
Moreover, Gene professed how positively Leclerc and Hamilton have been gelling as team-mates thus far in 2025.
“Therefore, now [Leclerc] having Lewis as a team mate, they work very well [together],” he said.
“They are not political. I can really tell that they work very well [together], and they are pushing each other.”
Gene understands Ferrari Hamilton move amid Sainz sympathy
The choice Ferrari made to swoop in for Hamilton meant parting ways with Sainz, who had done nothing wrong to warrant being ousted by the Italian outfit.
Sainz responded with maturity, putting in one of his strongest campaigns, underscored by impressive victories in Australia and Mexico and taking his time to make a decision on his future.
The Spaniard eventually opted to sign with Williams and Gene sympathises with his fellow countryman who had to look for a future beyond Ferrari.
“Of course, I was sorry for Carlos, because I’m Spanish and I have a very good relationship with him,” he said.
“But when you have the opportunity to have Lewis in the team, and it was a love affair, a mutual love affair, you understand the decision that Ferrari took.”
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