A throng of highly-respected Formula 1 personalities are chewing over whether or not Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc would be the greatest winner in Ferrari’s bombshell 2025 driver lineup.
A throng of highly-respected Formula 1 personalities are chewing over whether or not Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc would be the greatest winner in Ferrari‘s bombshell 2025 driver lineup.
Corriere dello Sport this week stated incumbent Leclerc is definitely upset that Ferrari has chosen to exchange Carlos Sainz with the seven time world champion.
Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, nevertheless, says Leclerc truly “has nobody to concern”.
“He simply has to focus on his work,” stated the Brazilian, who famously paired up with the good Michael Schumacher on the Maranello staff.
“Hamilton’s willpower and work ethic are an vital issue that may affect the environment within the staff,” Massa instructed La Gazzetta dello Sport. “But this may also give Charles further motivation, as a result of beating Lewis whereas driving precisely the identical automobile is a really fascinating problem.”
Out of Hamilton – who will likely be 40 when he arrives in purple – and 26-year-old Leclerc, it isn’t clear who will likely be considered Ferrari’s ‘number one’.
Ralf Schumacher is in little doubt: “Hamilton will attempt to be number one. But I believe he should struggle for it as a result of Leclerc has been there for a very long time.
“The most vital factor will likely be what the drivers need,” he instructed Sky Deutschland. “Lewis wants a secure automobile, whereas Charles can drive an unstable automobile. It stays to be seen who will prevail.”
1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, whose father Gilles was a well-known Ferrari driver, thinks shifting alongside Leclerc on the age of 40 is definitely a low-risk transfer for Hamilton.
“It’s at a time in historical past the place the staff hasn’t received in a really very long time,” he stated. “It would have been completely different, for instance, to reach instantly after Schumacher.
“And if he would not win, it is higher to not win with Ferrari than to not win with Mercedes.”
However, the Canadian wonders if Hamilton is prepared for the distinctive stress of Maranello.
“Ferrari is one other world, during which it isn’t straightforward to outlive,” stated Villeneuve. “We will now see how sturdy he’s, together with psychologically.
“Ferrari wears out its drivers. Even somebody like Alonso burned out. The just one who did not was Schumacher.”
On the opposite hand, German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck thinks Hamilton truly “has loads to lose”.
“If Leclerc beats Hamilton, it could be a foul finish to his (Hamilton’s) profession,” he instructed Eurosport Deutschland.
“I’m curious to see if he can deal with the Ferrari system, the place all the pieces works somewhat in a different way. He will not get to be the massive character that you could have in different groups. Hamilton has to submit.
“Ferrari is Italy. The press is totally completely different – they lust after each little factor, there aren’t any secrets and techniques. This will likely be a totally new expertise for Hamilton,” Stuck added.
“He may also have a really sturdy teammate in Leclerc. He’s been within the Ferrari system for years and is aware of how issues work. We’ve seen this so many instances – a driver adjustments groups, a younger driver comes alongside and thrashes him.”
