Special focus on one-lap pace
In qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, for the 19th time out of 24 occasions, Charles Leclerc beat his team-mate Lewis Hamilton on Saturday. Regardless of the disappointing performance of the car, there was genuine curiosity at the start of the year to see how the head-to-head battle over a single lap would unfold between two of the best qualifiers of the modern Formula 1 era. The contest, however, proved to be completely one-sided, as clearly shown by the last three qualifying sessions, in which Hamilton never managed to progress beyond Q1.
The conclusion of the first season of direct qualifying duels between the Monegasque driver and the seven-time world champion also allows for another extremely interesting assessment to be made: the overall record achieved by Charles Leclerc in qualifying against the two world champions he has raced alongside in equal machinery. Leclerc’s Ferrari career, after all, began next to Sebastian Vettel.
A ruthless comparison with two champions
Putting together the three seasons contested against Vettel and Hamilton across 2019, 2020 and 2025, Charles Leclerc’s scoreline is remarkable: 44–21. These figures are made even more significant by the fact that Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are, respectively, the first and fourth drivers with the most pole positions in the history of Formula 1. Hardly a minor detail.
As long as Ferrari’s on-track performance remains at its current level, however, Charles Leclerc will only be able to aim for internal supremacy within the team, without being able to nurture genuine championship ambitions or dreams of glory.
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