Damon Hill believes Charles Leclerc will enjoy ‘the edge’ over Lewis Hamilton in a key area when the drivers become teammates at Ferrari from the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The Scuderia will enjoy a new driver line-up next year after deciding to poach Hamilton from Mercedes. He will move to Maranello at the end of the 2024 campaign after signing a multi-year deal. Ferrari abandoned talks to hand Carlos Sainz a new contract for the 39-year-old.
Ferrari had held talks with Sainz with the 29-year-old’s deal already due to expire at the end of 2024. But Scuderia president John Elkann pivoted to poaching Hamilton after learning he could leave Mercedes. The Briton held the option to break out of his contract through 2025.
Damon Hill thinks Charles Leclerc will have the qualifying ‘edge’ over Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari in February to tee the 2024 campaign as a farewell tour with Mercedes. But one eye has also remained on 2025 with the Stevenage-born star’s switch to the Scuderia teeing up a tempting partnership between the F1 legend and Leclerc.
But while Hamilton is a seven-time world champion and holds the records for the most wins (103), poles (104) and podiums (197), Hill feels Leclerc will enjoy a slight ‘edge’ in qualifying when they have equal machinery. Although he will ‘never’ count against Hamilton in a race.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Ferrari move
Leclerc has often proven he is one of if not the fastest drivers over a single lap in Formula 1. The 26-year-old has scored 24 career pole positions so far and can take the maximum from his cars. So, Hill expects Leclerc will come out on top when he and Hamilton drive for Ferrari.
Hill said on Sky Sports F1 (23/6, 13:13): “On a Saturday, perhaps Charles maybe slightly [has] got the edge in sheer speed. On a Sunday, I would never discount Lewis at all.”
Charles Leclerc is dominating Carlos Sainz while Lewis Hamilton trails George Russell
Hamilton established himself as the fastest driver in Formula 1 during the early phases of his career. The Mercedes hero often excelled in qualifying and produced an array of iconic laps, none less so than at the 2018 Singapore GP. He cut 1.329s out of his Q2 lap time to get pole.
READ MORE: The best moments of Lewis Hamilton’s career in Formula 1
But qualifying has not been Hamilton’s finest hour in 2024 with George Russell regularly the lead Mercedes driver. Taking P3 in qualifying for the Spanish GP on Saturday marked just the second time that Hamilton out-qualified his 26-year-old stablemate over 10 rounds this year.
Leclerc also out-qualified his teammate at the Spanish GP to relish a 7-2 lead against Sainz in the Ferrari garage. The Monegasque has continued where he ended 2023 by winning the qualifying head-to-head 15-7. Hamilton and Russell drew their 2023 qualifying tussle 11-11.
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