Lewis Hamilton stands on the point of his Ferrari Method 1 debut, a transfer that might mark the start of the ultimate chapter in his illustrious profession.
The seven-time world champion has made no secret of his ambition to say one final Drivers’ Championship, a title that will set him aside as essentially the most profitable racer within the sport’s historical past. His journey at Maranello started with a day of simulator work and familiarizing himself with the staff, an vital step in constructing relationships as he adjusts to his new surroundings.
Hamilton will be a part of forces with Charles Leclerc in a high-stakes mission to carry Ferrari its first championship in 17 years. Whereas the Scuderia has come shut in latest seasons, they’ve repeatedly fallen in need of changing title competition into success.
Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur intentionally prevented discussions about Hamilton all through 2024, preferring to focus on optimizing the staff’s efficiency. The technique appeared to bear fruit, as Ferrari ended the season with the second-fastest automobile on the grid. With a productive low season underneath their belt, they might now pose a big problem to McLaren’s dominance in 2025.
Hamilton vs. Leclerc: Evaluating Their Best Monaco Laps
The partnership between Hamilton and Leclerc guarantees to be one of the crucial compelling narratives of the 2025 season.
Leclerc’s status as a Saturday specialist contrasts sharply with Hamilton’s ability at delivering extraordinary race-day performances. In 2024, Leclerc lastly secured his maiden Monaco Grand Prix victory in commanding fashion, taking pole place with a powerful lap time of 1:10.270 and outpacing Oscar Piastri by over a tenth of a second.
Whereas that was Leclerc’s fastest-ever lap across the streets of Monte Carlo, it falls simply in need of Hamilton’s finest. In 2019, throughout an emotional weekend following the demise of his mentor Niki Lauda, Lewis Hamilton recorded a 1:10.166 in qualifying. He went on to say a deeply significant victory, drawing parallels to Leclerc’s triumphant second 5 years later.
Hamilton’s Early Reward for Leclerc’s Expertise
As Leclerc enters his seventh season with Ferrari, he has firmly established himself as one of the crucial skilled and succesful drivers among the many sport’s prime groups.
Leclerc’s debut season with Ferrari in 2019 was marked by a mixture of highs and lows. One of the crucial memorable moments got here on the Bahrain Grand Prix, the place a mechanical difficulty robbed him of a maiden victory, leaving Hamilton to capitalize and take the win.
Nonetheless, later that 12 months, Leclerc earned his first profession victory on the Belgian Grand Prix—a milestone Hamilton was fast to acknowledge. The Brit hailed the then-21-year-old as a future star, recognizing the potential for greatness in his early performances.
Now, six years later, the 2 drivers discover themselves facet by facet at Ferrari, poised to write down a brand new chapter within the staff’s storied historical past. The dynamic between them, coupled with the burden of Ferrari’s expectations, guarantees an exhilarating 2025 marketing campaign.
Hamilton expressed his perception that there was rather more greatness forward for Leclerc, including that he appeared ahead to witnessing his progress and competing alongside him. He remarked that it had been pleasing making an attempt to chase Leclerc in the course of the race, although he admitted the Monegasque driver had been simply barely too quick.
Hamilton additionally famous that Leclerc had confronted vital misfortune in a number of races that season, suggesting it might have simply been his third victory after narrowly lacking out in Bahrain and Austria.