Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will form one of the most hotly-anticipated driver partnerships in F1 history next year. The sport’s most successful driver is making the move from Mercedes to Ferrari.
Hamilton has won a joint-record seven world championships and sits atop the all-time list for wins (103), pole positions (104) and podiums (198). His aim at Maranello, which may be his final stop in F1, is to bag an unprecedented eighth title.
But standing in his way is one of the sport’s most highly-rated drivers in Leclerc. The Monegasque is unanimously ranked among the F1 elite alongside Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon believes that he and Verstappen are the most naturally talented drivers on the grid. Leclerc has only won six Grands Prix so far, most recently in Monaco, but is formidable in qualifying, with 24 pole positions to his name.
Fred Vasseur and John Elkann will see Hamilton as the man who can inspire Ferrari to finally end their lengthy championship drought. They haven’t won either trophy since back in 2008.
They have also targeted legendary designer Adrian Newey to achieve that goal. But Sky Sports F1’s Craig Slater says Aston Martin are now in pole position to sign him.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have discussed Ferrari fortunes
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Leclerc revealed details of his conversations with Hamilton this season. He admits that they have discussed Ferrari’s performances in 2024.
The Scuderia cut Red Bull’s lead at the top of the constructors’ championship to 24 points when Leclerc won in Monaco and Carlos Sainz completed the podium. But that deficit has ballooned 60 in the two races since.
Ferrari endured a miserable outing in Canada as they missed out on Q3 with both cars for the first time since Belgium 2021, and then suffered a double DNF for the first time since Australia 2023. Barcelona was a more stable weekend but they simply lacked pace compared to their rivals, finishing fifth and sixth.
While Hamilton will clearly have a close eye on what’s happening at the Italian giants, Leclerc insists most of their interactions have been personal. They have discussed their mutual interests, including a shared passion for music.
“I think it’s mixed,” he said. “[We talk] a little bit about the way it is now with Ferrari, and where we are at.
“But this is a very little part of our discussions because obviously, he’s still 100% focused on his season this year with Mercedes, so we cannot exchange about everything yet […] 80 or 90% of what we speak of is more about private stuff, and just about how life is going and music and all of these kind of things.”
The one area where Leclerc will have an edge over Hamilton
Leclerc will be aware that he may not be facing a prime version of Hamilton. The Briton’s podium in Barcelona was his first of the season – the longest wait of his F1 career (10 races).
Much of that is down to Mercedes’ initial struggles. But he’s also on the end of an 8-2 deficit to teammate George Russell in qualifying.
The question is whether Hamilton naturally steps things up in 2025, energised by a new challenge and a potential title shot. He’s out to prove that his best days aren’t already behind him.
1996 world champion Damon Hill believes Leclerc may have a ‘slight’ edge over Hamilton in qualifying. But one ex-F1 driver has warned that he’s ‘too nice’ to survive against the 39-year-old in a championship battle.
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