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Leclerc on Hamilton joining Ferrari new teammate

Leclerc expects to learn a lot from 'one of the best ever' Hamilton

22 August at 07:00
Last update 22 August at 07:14
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  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

With a bombshell announcement ahead of the 2024 season, it was announced that Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in the 2025 season, and will replace Carlos Sainz. As a result, Charles Leclerc will team up with the seven-time world champion next season onwards. The Monegasque driver explained how the Briton's arrival could help his team.

Leclerc looks forward to teaming up with Hamilton after the last 10 Grands Prix of 2024. According to this year's Monaco Grand Prix winner, Hamilton could help out the Italians with his experience. "[It is] extremely positive. I think when a champion like Lewis gets to any team, it brings a lot of motivation out of every single person out of the team. So that will be obviously the first really positive effect it will have on Ferrari. And obviously he will come also along with all the experience that he's had over the years with Mercedes, a different way of working, a different vision," he said on F1's Beyond the Grid podcast about what Hamilton could change at his new team.

The Italian team have not been in their best form since their double podium finish at Monte Carlo, as they have only earned two podiums since then. Meanwhile, Hamilton could score two victories at Silverstone and at Spa after his long drought that started back at the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP.

Leclerc ready for new challenge

The current P3 in the drivers' championship with 177 points to his name, Leclerc is also ready to battle against the seven-time champion. "I'll have a lot of fun. I'll have, in the same car as me, the most successful driver in F1 history. And that will be both extremely interesting for me to learn from one of the best ever, and as well as a really big challenge and motivation to beat Lewis and to show what I'm capable of."

He added: "With Lewis joining the team, he will definitely be a benchmark. So it will be very important for me to be on my top level and then we'll see how it goes."