Charles Leclerc Surprised by Similarities with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari
Charles Leclerc has shared his thoughts on working alongside Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, revealing that he was “surprised” by the similarities in their driving styles, which he believes will benefit the team. Hamilton officially joined the Scuderia in January and has been undergoing an “immersion program” to acclimate to his new environment.
Since Hamilton’s arrival, he and Leclerc have participated in various events, including the launch of the team’s livery at the F1 75 Live event and pre-season testing in Bahrain, where Hamilton got behind the wheel of the SF-25. Reflecting on Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari, Leclerc noted the emotions that come with joining the iconic team, a journey he experienced himself in 2019.
“It’s really nice to see,” Leclerc remarked about Hamilton’s excitement. “Obviously it’s very different, the situation that Lewis finds himself in joining the team. When I joined, I had only done one year in Formula 1, so everything was still new to me. For Lewis, an Italian team is pretty new, but he arrives here as a legend of the sport.”
Leclerc expressed admiration for Hamilton’s successful career with other teams and how that experience enriches the current dynamic at Ferrari. “It was really exciting to see how happy and excited he was about the whole thing,” he added.
As the pre-season progresses, Leclerc is focused on his own preparations and is eager to start the year positively, hoping for better results compared to the previous season.
Discussing his working relationship with Hamilton, Leclerc emphasized their shared driving style. “I was surprised—our driving style is very similar. We both like to push quite a lot, especially the entries,” he explained. “That’s positive because it requires the same thing out of the car, which means we’ll definitely push in the same direction.”
Leclerc noted that they have spent considerable time together this year, primarily in promotional activities, but he remains enthusiastic about racing alongside Hamilton and aims to help Ferrari return to the top of Formula 1. “I’m looking forward to racing with him and hopefully bringing Ferrari back to the top,” he concluded.
