Leclerc reveals what ‘surprised’ him form working with Hamilton at Ferrari as he opens on their relationship
Charles Leclerc has shared his thoughts on working with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, revealing that he was pleasantly surprised by the similarities in their driving styles. The Monegasque driver, who has been with Ferrari since 2019, admitted that he was initially curious to see how Hamilton would adapt to the team’s dynamics.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, joined Ferrari in January and has since undergone an “immersion programme” to familiarize himself with the team’s operations. Leclerc observed that Hamilton’s experience of joining Ferrari was vastly different from his own, given the Briton’s extensive background in Formula 1.
“When I joined Ferrari, I had only done one year in Formula 1, so everything was new to me,” Leclerc explained. “But Lewis has achieved so much and arrives here as a legend of the sport. It’s really cool to see what it was like for him to have so much success in other teams and how they used to work.”
Leclerc noted that Hamilton’s presence at Ferrari has brought a new dynamic to the team, with the two drivers already working well together. He highlighted that their similar driving styles, particularly in terms of aggressive entry points, could be a positive factor for the team.
“I was surprised by how similar our driving styles are,” Leclerc said. “We both like to push quite a lot, especially on the entries. That’s positive because it means we’ll be pushing in the same direction, and we’ll need the same things from the car.”
Leclerc emphasized that he and Hamilton have spent considerable time together since the start of the year, both on and off the track. While they have had to endure the less glamorous aspects of their job, such as photo shoots, Leclerc is looking forward to racing alongside Hamilton and hopefully bringing Ferrari back to the top.
The Monegasque driver acknowledged that the off-season was a bit more low-key for him, given Hamilton’s arrival, but he used the time to focus on his own preparation. Leclerc is eager to start the season on a positive note, particularly after a challenging 2023 campaign.
With Hamilton and Leclerc forming a potent partnership, Ferrari will be hoping to mount a strong challenge for the championship. As the season gets underway, fans will be eagerly watching to see how the two drivers work together and whether they can bring the Scuderia back to the top step of the podium.
