Lewis Hamilton‘s move to Ferrari is already lighting a fire under Charles Leclerc, who’s gearing up for what could be the biggest challenge of his racing career in 2025.
“Obviously, as a driver, I’ve got full trust in my ability,” Leclerc told reporters after testing the SF-25 at Fiorano on Wednesday.
But the 26-year-old Monegasque driver knows he’s about to share a garage with Formula 1’s most successful driver ever.
It’s not just any teammate switch – we’re talking about a seven-time world champion who’s dominated the sport for the better part of a decade.
Leclerc’s taking a realistic approach to the upcoming battle. “It’s very difficult for now because I haven’t had any comparison with Lewis in the same car at the same time. So I guess time will tell,” he said.
The young Ferrari star isn’t backing down from the challenge. If anything, he’s embracing it.
“It’s definitely a huge challenge and probably one of the biggest of my career,” Leclerc admitted. “Having him as my teammate is a really, really big motivation for me.”
He sees it as a chance to both learn and prove himself. “To have the most successful driver in Formula 1 as a teammate… it’s about learning from him, but also showing what I’m capable of.”
The paddock will be watching closely when these two finally share the same machinery. Hamilton’s experience versus Leclerc’s raw speed could make for one of F1’s most fascinating teammate battles in years.
