Leclerc on working with Hamilton: 'Super cool' and perfect timing

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Charles Leclerc is embracing the early stages of his partnership at Ferrari with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, hailing the Briton's arrival as a "super cool" and timely boost for the Scuderia.

With the House of Maranello's championship drought stretching back to 2008, the team hopes that pairing its Monegasque with Formula 1's most successful driver will produce the magic formula to reclaiming glory.

Leclerc, now entering his fifth season with Ferrari, has already seen plenty to be optimistic about during his first few weeks working alongside Hamilton.

Speaking to the media after his first proper test in the new SF-25, the 27-year-old expressed his enthusiasm about collaborating with his new teammate, acknowledging the unique opportunity to learn from such an accomplished driver.

A Timely Move to the Scuderia

Hamilton's move to Ferrari has been one of the most talked-about stories in recent Formula 1 history, with fans and pundits alike speculating whether his arrival can finally end the team's championship drought.

Leclerc is convinced the timing is perfect for Hamilton to make his mark at the Scuderia under the pragmatic and highly efficient guidance of team boss Fred Vasseur.

"I think Lewis is coming into the team in [at] the right time," he explained.

"I think Fred is a guy that has a very big strength of keeping the emotional level of the team at a very good level, and we've been so much more solid on that in the last past years.

"Obviously the fact that Lewis has joined the team has been a big boost and has been amazing in so many ways.

"But I feel like the team is very, very calm and very clear in what is the direction to work in and not getting too affected by everything that is going on around the team, and that is extremely important and that's great to see."

This sense of calm, Leclerc believes, will be essential for Ferrari to sustain the positive momentum built during a 2024 season where the team fell just short of toppling McLaren in a thrilling Constructors' Championship battle.

Learning from the Best

Leclerc hasn't wasted any time in soaking up knowledge from his legendary new teammate. From the early tests at Fiorano to day-to-day interactions, he's been analyzing Hamilton's approach and picking up valuable insights.

"It's always very, very interesting the first few weeks with a new teammate, and especially when your teammate is Lewis Hamilton," Leclerc said.

"He's achieved so much, it's super interesting, and it's super cool for me to be able to analyse how he actually works day to day with his engineers.

"What are the comments that he makes, what are the things that he puts particular attention on, because obviously it's been a very successful approach.

"And as I was saying, he's the most successful driver in Formula 1.

"So of course, I've been looking and trying to analyse and learn as much as I can from Lewis in this first few weeks.

"It's very difficult for now, because we haven't been with the same car at the same time on track…but I can see a little bit the traits of his driving style, and it's really cool to see and analyse."

Despite being in the early stages of their collaboration, Leclerc revealed that he and Hamilton have quickly established a strong rapport.

"So it went really well. We also have a very good relationship and managed to spend quite a bit of time together, and we cannot wait to be starting to race each other."

Managing the Spotlight

With Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari, the team has found itself under an even brighter spotlight than usual. However, Leclerc has taken the increased attention in stride, insisting that it hasn't been a distraction for him or the team.

"No, I haven't been surprised," Leclerc said when asked about the extra scrutiny Ferrari has faced this season. "I think Ferrari has always had a lot of attention around the team.

"And of course, this year, it's even bigger because Lewis is joining the team and he's obviously a legend of the sport, so it's normal that there's even more attention than there normally is.

"But let's say that the normal standard is already quite high. Now with Lewis, everything is kind of exploding and there's obviously a lot of coverage and a lot of requests and all of this.

"But it's part of the job and I think the team in the background is doing a really good job because as a driver, it's not like I can feel it that much.

"I can obviously see the craziness. Today we're in Fiorano, we drove the car today and I can see the craziness around the track and that's amazing to see. But yeah, I only see the positive."

With pre-season testing around the corner, Leclerc is brimming with optimism as Ferrari embarks on a new chapter with Hamilton by his side.

From sharing insights to dissecting data, Leclerc's early experiences with Hamilton suggest that this partnership could be one of the most fascinating storylines of the 2025 season.

While the pressure will undoubtedly be immense, Leclerc's confidence in Ferrari's trajectory and his ability to learn from a seven-time champion is a promising sign.

For now, the duo is united by a shared goal: bringing championship glory back to Maranello.

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