Heading into the 2025 Formula 1 season, Ferrari’s team principal, Frederic Vasseur, is likely to feel a sense of confidence, knowing that he has secured what could very well be the strongest driver pairing on the grid.
With Lewis Hamilton boasting more world championships than any other driver in the paddock combined, and Charles Leclerc continuing to assert that he is the fastest driver currently in Formula 1 despite lacking a title, Ferrari’s challenge will be to manage the dynamics between these two exceptional talents, especially if they have a car that can compete at the highest level.
Ferrari finished second in the Constructors’ Championship in 2024, and it wouldn’t take much improvement for the Scuderia to surpass McLaren, particularly considering the way Fred Vasseur’s team concluded the previous season.
One area of focus for Ferrari heading into 2025 is a long-standing issue they’ve identified, which they plan to resolve. This improvement is expected to benefit both Hamilton and Leclerc, enhancing their performance as they aim to push for a title.
A key aspect to watch this season will undoubtedly be the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as teammates. The dynamic between the Monegasque driver and his former teammate, Carlos Sainz, was notably close during Carlos Sainz’s four-year tenure at Ferrari, though they were never direct championship rivals. In contrast, the intensity between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton could be much greater, particularly if they are consistently battling for race victories.
However, Lewis Hamilton’s comments about Charles Leclerc during the 2019 season offer some intriguing insight, suggesting that a strong foundation of mutual respect exists between the two Ferrari drivers. These remarks have become even more significant now that they will be teammates, and the interplay between them in the upcoming season could be one of the most compelling storylines to follow.
Charles Leclerc’s impressive performances during his debut season with Sauber in 2018 earned him a promotion to Ferrari for the 2019 season. That year, he quickly made his mark, securing five podium finishes before clinching his first-ever Formula 1 victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.
After the race, the British driver remarked that Charles Leclerc had been unlucky in several races that season, noting that it could easily have been his third win of the year, following near-misses in Bahrain and Austria. Hamilton expressed confidence that there was much more greatness to come from the Ferrari man, adding that he looked forward to seeing his development and racing alongside him. He also mentioned how enjoyable it had been to chase the Monegasque during the race, although he admitted that Charles Leclerc had been just a little too quick.
At the time, Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s team principal and now Audi’s head of Formula 1, remarked that Leclerc had driven exceptionally well throughout the weekend, pushing hard from the start of the race to the finish. He acknowledged that it was important for Leclerc to win in honor of Anthoine Hubert and that his commitment was clear. Binotto noted that while there had been missed opportunities earlier in the season, winning at Spa was significant, marking Leclerc’s first victory, and hinted it wouldn’t be the last. He also highlighted the special moment of hearing the Monaco national anthem.
Ferrari is already putting measures in place for Lewis Hamilton’s initial Formula 1 tests, but the heightened attention from fans, especially around the team’s Fiorano test track, makes keeping these plans under wraps difficult. Hamilton is set to start his work in Ferrari’s simulator, adhering to the rules which limit him to 1000 km of driving before official F1 testing begins. This places him at a disadvantage compared to Charles Leclerc, who, although unfamiliar with the 2025 car, has a better understanding of Ferrari’s operations and team dynamics.
The British driver will likely participate in three tests before the official Bahrain session, where he’ll spend 1.5 days running alongside the rest of the grid. Ferrari’s goal is to gather extensive feedback from both drivers, with hopes of taking that critical next step toward securing their first title since 2008. The internal competition between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is bound to be fierce, with Leclerc already having overcome an F1 champion in the past. If he can do so again, he may cement his place among the sport’s elite.
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