It’s only Friday but Lewis Hamilton has already beaten Charles Leclerc at Suzuka. Hamilton gets the better of Leclerc at Suzuka — even off the track.

Competition. It’s one of the foundations upon which the lives of Formula 1 drivers are built. Those who race in this sport want to win — and want to do so in every arena, on or off the track. And the main rival, in most cases, is the teammate. That explains the challenge issued and won by Lewis Hamilton against Charles Leclerc, as shown in photos published by Ferrari on Friday at the Suzuka Grand Prix.

The two Ferrari drivers, after a season start filled with disappointment, are hoping to reverse course starting from the Japanese weekend. To do so, they are trying to keep the team as united as possible. Having the best possible atmosphere in the garage allows everyone to work at their best to try to solve the issues that have emerged in the early outings of the SF-25.

The social media photos document Lewis’s victory
That’s the context behind the entire Ferrari team spending Friday evening in Suzuka at a bowling alley, as shown in photos shared on social media featuring both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The initiative seems to have been started by the seven-time world champion himself, as the caption reads, “Sharing new traditions with the whole family thanks to Lewis Hamilton.”

The British driver had already emphasized the importance of teamwork in recent days. “Without it, it’s impossible to achieve our goals,” Lewis Hamilton said at the press conference. And that would be one of the reasons behind the choice to go bowling together.

Who won? Well, the photos leave no room for doubt. Zooming in, you can see that number 44 is in the lead with 165 points, while Charles Leclerc finished last with 68.

The results may not mean much, but they show that, despite a season start far below expectations, the atmosphere within Ferrari seems rather calm.