Hamilton sizes up Leclerc's speed: "Completely aware of that"
F1 News
Lewis Hamilton vs Charles Leclerc. Ferrari's internal duel will be one of the most important narratives in the 2025 F1 season. Does Hamilton still got it? Did Leclerc ever have it? These are some of the hot, career-defining topics that will be answered come the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, for the former Mercedes man is a matter of an entirely different nature.
Speaking to select media, including GPblog, following the SF-25 shakedown at Fiorano, Hamilton revealed what the dynamic between him and his teammate, Leclerc, was like prior to their first season together in representation for Ferrari.
"Charles, we've got a great relationship. And I'm just trying to observe how he works. He's very, very professional. He's clearly well loved within this team and well embedded in this team and super comfortable," and of course, with Leclerc being a Ferrari junior and having spent all but one season in the Cavallino Rampante, it is only logical that Ferrari and him fit so naturally with each other.
Nevertheless, the Monegasque is also fast. "So he jumps in and he's on it straight away. He's very fast and I'm completely aware of that. You've seen his qualifying laps that he's putting in. He's got great races together, I told you (the media, ed.), in Bahrain many years ago: 'He's got such a bright future ahead of him.' So many years.
Leclerc tough to beat, 'especially in his home'
"He's only 27, so he's very mature for a 27 year old. I think probably more mature than I was when I was 27." Hamilton will be fighting Leclerc in the Monegasque's turf, and he knows that all too well. "And it is not going to be easy to beat him, naturally, especially in his home. But we'll work together and we'll collaborate, to make sure the car's moving, the team moves forwards in the right way and we're going to have some great races, I hope," concluded the seven-time world champion.
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