JUST IN: Hamilton opens up on developing relationship with ‘massively talented’ Leclerc… read more
Lewis Hamilton has shared his thoughts on how he’s adjusting to life as a Ferrari driver, particularly his budding partnership with teammate Charles Leclerc. Since joining the Italian outfit in January, Hamilton has been immersed in getting to know his new environment, and a significant part of that process has involved working closely with Leclerc.
Hamilton has been impressed by Leclerc’s talent and has enjoyed watching him work. “Charles is massively talented,” Hamilton said during the pre-season testing in Bahrain. “Getting to see him work opposite the table and watching him in the garage, it’s been really, really great.” Hamilton also acknowledged Leclerc’s familiarity with the team, having been with Ferrari since 2019, and how that has made their partnership easier to establish.
The seven-time World Champion is eager to learn from Leclerc and support him in their shared goal of delivering the best results for Ferrari. “He’s incredibly talented, so he’s going to be so fast this year,” Hamilton said. “I’m looking forward to learning what I can from him and supporting him alongside the team to deliver the best results we can get.”
As Hamilton continues to settle into his new role, he’s also been focused on getting accustomed to his new car, the SF-25. When asked about his progress in learning the car’s intricacies, Hamilton emphasized that it’s a work in progress. “I don’t have a crystal ball,” he said. “All I can say is we’re just taking it one day at a time. We’re really, really just focused on doing our job, we’re not watching everything else that’s happening.”
Hamilton highlighted the importance of understanding the car’s control systems, suspension, and terminology, as well as developing a strong working relationship with his engineer. “After every session, every time I go out basically, we come back in and we’re making adjustments to the information I give him and vice versa,” Hamilton explained. “I think it’s on plan. We couldn’t be further ahead with the short space of time that we’ve had.”
Hamilton also drew inspiration from former Ferrari drivers, such as Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, who had a head start in adjusting to the team. Despite the challenges, Hamilton is optimistic about the progress he’s made and is excited to see how the season unfolds.
