Charles Leclerc has confirmed George Russell’s theory about teaming up with Lewis Hamilton, explaining that he believes it is best to face up against the sport’s best drivers from a self-development point of view.
Hamilton has helped Russell kick on as a driver during their three-year stint together as Mercedes team-mates, and in 2025 he will call time on his 12-year career with the Silver Arrows, becoming Leclerc’s new team-mate at Ferrari.
When discussing his time alongside Hamilton earlier this year, Russell said:
“This is my third season now alongside Lewis, [the] greatest driver of all time, and I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job alongside him. So whoever were to line up alongside me next year or the years to come I welcome anybody, welcome a challenge.
“You want to go against the best. But ultimately for me, I just focus on myself. I believe in myself. I believe I can beat anybody on the grid. You’ve just got to have that mentality. So having Lewis as my benchmark the last couple of years, it’s been a pretty good benchmark for sure.”
This theory has now been ratified by Leclerc, who is relishing the prospect of teaming up with the seven-time world champion after stamping his authority on the intra-team battle with Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
“Since I got into Formula One, I have been very lucky,” Leclerc told The Race.
“Instead of thinking that I wish I had a number two driver as a team-mate, I have always thought it is so much better to have the best as your team-mate. I have had very, very fast team-mates who have pushed me forward and with Lewis, I will learn a lot as well.”
The Monegasque race also believes he has plenty to learn from Hamilton.
“I will be super curious to see what he has done right for all his career to have had all the success that he’s had,” Leclerc continued.
“He has very little weaknesses – well actually, I don’t know any weaknesses of Lewis. He’s a super strong driver, always there, super fast, super consistent. It will be super interesting for me to learn from Lewis, as much as showing what I am capable of in the same car as Lewis. These two things motivate me a lot.”
Hamilton is moving to Maranello in the hope that he can return to World Championship contention, but he faces an immense challenge from Leclerc if Ferrari can provide the duo with machinery capable of challenging McLaren and Red Bull on a weekly basis.
