Leclerc Looking Forward To Hamilton Match-Up: 'Don't Think He Has Any Weakness'

Wednesday, 02 October 2024 at 14:00

Updated at Wednesday, 02 October 2024 at 16:48

Charles Leclerc discussed his future with the Ferrari F1 team alongside new teammate Lewis Hamilton, whose arrival date is approaching fast.

Following the final Grand Prix of the season (six race weekends left) in Abu Dhabi, Lewis Hamilton's contract with Mercedes expires, and the seven-time World Champion will head to Ferrari.

At Scuderia, Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz (who will move to Williams Racing) and become Charles Leclerc's new teammate.

Statistically, the 39-year-old (who turns 40 before the start of the 2025 season) is the most successful driver the Monegasque has ever faced. Consequently, Leclerc is looking forward to the match-up. He told The Race:

"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."

"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."

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc walking together through the paddock at one of the F1 circuits, with Red Bull hospitality and the FIA office in the background.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc walk together through the paddock.

"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."

While Leclerc suggests Hamilton doesn't have a weakness, the seven-time World Champion himself admitted he has struggled with qualifying performance this season.

The 26-year-old, on the other hand, is considered perhaps the best qualifier on the grid by many F1 experts (such as Martin Brundle) at the moment. When Charles Leclerc was told that a lot of people think he has what it takes to beat Hamilton, he responded:

"Well, that's good to hear. I don't really think about what the expectations are because for me I have just got to focus on what I have to do."

"I always like to focus a lot more on the process to try and achieve great things instead of [first] thinking about the great things and then thinking about the process."