Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are now F1 team-mates (Image: Getty)
and are now team-mates at , forming one of the most hotly-anticipated duos in modern F1 history. Despite being at different ends of their respective careers, both drivers feel they have plenty to learn from one another.
For Leclerc, Hamilton represents the latest and greatest addition to a long line of F1 colleagues. The 27-year-old has beaten Marcus Ericsson, Sebastian Vettel and to establish him as ’s golden child, and now has the opportunity to boost his reputation even further.
Meanwhile, for Hamilton, the battle with Leclerc is a shot at redemption. On Sundays, there was almost nothing separating the Brit and during their three years together at , but ’s prized academy graduate dominated the seven-time world champion in qualifying, winning 19-5 on Saturdays in 2024.
Fortunately, internal fireworks are unlikely. The pair have a strong personal relationship and share similar passions away from the race track, producing their own music and relishing private time with friends and family.
Since the signing was made official, Leclerc has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Hamilton and believes that the former man’s arrival represents a chance to learn from one of the sport’s greatest ever talents.
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Lewis Hamilton has always admired Charles Leclerc (Image: Getty)
“When a champion like Lewis gets to any team, it brings a lot of motivation out of every single person,” Leclerc explained. “He will come along with all the experience that he’s had over the years with – a different way of working, a different vision – and this is always benefitting a team.”
He went on to add: “Obviously, for me, it’s going to be amazing because I’ll have in the same car as me the most successful driver in F1 history. “That will be both extremely interesting for me to learn from one of the best ever, as well as a really big challenge and motivation to beat Lewis and to show what I’m capable of. 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.”
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Hamilton’s admiration for Leclerc is nothing new either. After watching the Monegasque racer impress in his rookie campaign with Sauber in 2018, the Brit drew comparisons between himself and his future team-mate.
“I see much of myself in Charles,” he said in 2019. “He’s doing a great job so far with really high expectations at a huge team like , but he’s driving so well so he just has to keep doing what he’s doing… it will come to him.”