Charles Leclerc said Aerial sports he is relishing the “huge opportunity” to be teammate of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari during the 2025 season.
Just over six months before Hamilton swapped Mercedes silver for Ferrari red in arguably F1’s biggest transfer ever, Leclerc – who struck up a friendship with his next teammate during his stint in the sport – says he’s “really looking forward” to opposing the seven-time world champion.
“Lewis is the most successful driver in F1 history and for me to be able to drive the same car as Lewis is, firstly, a huge opportunity to learn from the best of all time, as well as a huge motivation to show what I am capable of,” Leclerc said in an interview with. Sky Sports F1 Rachel Brookes.
“So, I’m really excited about this new challenge.
“We also have a great relationship. I have enormous respect for Lewis and everything he has accomplished. It will certainly be a great moment in my career to be against Lewis, and we will obviously work together to bring Ferrari back to the top.
“It will be amazing to see where I stand against Lewis.”
Leclerc, who is considered by some in the sport to be the fastest F1 driver over a single lap, added: “We all have our specialities; we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Obviously in Lewis’ case I’m pretty sure there are very few weaknesses, but I can definitely learn from his strengths, so it’s going to be super interesting.”
The Ferrari 2025 teammates have regularly been seen talking to each other during driver parades before races so far this season.
Hamilton and Leclerc in conversation with Valtteri Bottas on the drivers’ parade in Canada
Asked what they discussed, Leclerc replied: “It’s mixed. Maybe a little bit about how it is now with Ferrari and where we are, but that’s just one very small part of our discussions because obviously he is always 100 percent.” focused on his season this year at Mercedes, so we can’t discuss everything yet, of course.
“But just in preparation for next year maybe on our common passions which are design and fashion in general.
“But I think 80 or 90 percent of what we talk about is more about private things and just the way life goes and music and all that kind of stuff, which is always nice.”
Hamilton: No regrets over Ferrari move amid Mercedes gains
Ferrari currently sit second behind world champions Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, two places ahead of Hamilton’s current Mercedes team, and have won two races so far this season.
However, aside from last month’s Monaco GP – which Leclerc won in impressive fashion – Ferrari has otherwise been supplanted by McLaren as Red Bull’s closest challenger, while it has also been outplayed by a Mercedes improving in the last two events as well.
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Sky Sports F1’s Harry Benjamin believes Lewis Hamilton has found his ‘mojo’ again after securing his first podium of the season in Spain. You can listen to the latest episode of the Sky Sports F1 podcast now.
This latest turnaround left Hamilton wondering after last Sunday’s Spanish GP – where he took his first podium of the season – whether he had second thoughts about his move to Italy.
“No, not at all,” Hamilton said.
“I mean, first of all, I love Mercedes. I’ve been at Mercedes since I was 13 and I’ll always be a Mercedes fan and supporter. And my job this year, right now, is to work as hard as possible.” with the team that I have, with the people at the factory to try to move forward and develop the car in the right direction.
“And so at the end of the day, whatever the direction and trajectory the team takes for next year, for example, there are things that I hope to be a part of and that I’m proud of.
“My work will start next year in the other team which I think is doing an excellent job. I think they had a few tough races, but let’s not forget they won a race in Monaco.
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Watch the 360 on-board camera as Lewis Hamilton overtakes Carlos Sainz to take 6th place at the Spanish Grand Prix.
“I can’t tell you what’s wrong with their car and why they’re in the position they’re in today. But they’ve made an improvement here, and I think they’re definitely making progress, but that doesn’t don’t put me second. guess my decision.”
Austrian GP schedule live from Sky Sports F1
Thursday June 27
12:30 p.m.: Drivers’ Press Conference
Friday June 28
7:50 a.m.: F3 training
9 a.m.: F2 training
11:00 a.m.: Austrian GP Practice One (session starts at 11:30 a.m.)
12:55 p.m.: F3 qualifying
1:50 p.m.: F2 qualifying
3:00 p.m.: Austrian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3:30 p.m.)*
Saturday June 29
8:25 a.m.: F3 Sprint
10 a.m.: Austrian GP Sprint (race start at 11 a.m.)*
12:25 p.m.: F2 Sprint
2:00 p.m.: preparation for qualifying for the Austrian GP
3:00 p.m.: Austrian GP qualifying
5 p.m.: Ted’s qualification notebook
Sunday June 30
7:25 a.m.: F3 Featured Race
8:55 a.m.: F2 featured race
12:30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: preparation for the Austrian GP*
2:00 p.m.: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4 p.m.: Checkered flag: reaction from the Austrian GP*
5 p.m.: Ted’s notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s triple bill continues at next week’s Austrian Grand Prix – with the Sprint format returning to the Red Bull Ring. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with the big race on Sunday at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month subscription – No contracts, cancel anytime
