Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: who has more to lose against Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez?
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A thorny red?
There is no doubt that the red teams of Formula 1 and MotoGP—Ferrari and Ducati—have created the most exciting driver pairings on their respective grids. The Prancing Horse has decided to pair Charles Leclerc with a legend like Lewis Hamilton, the record holder for world titles (along with Michael Schumacher), wins, and pole positions. Meanwhile, in Borgo Panigale, Pecco Bagnaia has been partnered with the great Marc Marquez, the third most successful rider in history in terms of premier-class championships and overall victories, as well as the all-time pole position leader.
Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez, for years the biggest rivals of the red teams, are now champions who, in the full maturity of their careers—Lewis having turned 40 and Marc about to turn 32—are accepting the ultimate challenge of their extraordinary careers. And they are all anyone is talking about, dominating the motorsport conversation in a pre-season period that has been entirely consumed by Ferrari and Ducati, monopolizing public attention.
How will Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia react to such formidable teammates?
Leclerc: the pros and cons of coexisting with Hamilton, according to formulapassion.it
Pros – Charles Leclerc joined the Ferrari family back in March 2016 at just 18 years old, making him a long-standing member of the Scuderia, where he has raced in Formula 1 since 2019. The Monegasque driver is beloved by Ferrari fans and will start his seventh season in red, allowing him to leverage his deep knowledge of the team. In the past, he has managed to push out both Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, and he might find himself under less pressure now that much of the focus will be on Hamilton and his performances. Charles is 12 years younger than the British champion and is exceptionally fast over a single lap—significant factors that could reaffirm his status as a top driver in the paddock.
Cons – Leclerc has a rather Latin temperament. He is highly expressive, both in his facial expressions and in team radio messages, and struggles to contain his emotions when frustrated. A highly motivated, razor-sharp Hamilton could unsettle him and diminish his standing in the public eye. The Briton might attract even more media and fan attention, potentially pushing Charles into the background. This will be a crucial season for Leclerc, and he must not let emotions take over—especially if the SF-25 proves to be extremely competitive.
Bagnaia: the pros and cons of coexisting with Marquez
Pros – Since joining the factory Ducati team in 2021, Pecco Bagnaia has brought the riders’ title back to Borgo Panigale after 14 years, repeating his success the following season. Today, he is the rider with the most wins and podiums in Ducati's MotoGP history. There is no doubt that Bagnaia feels like a true Ducatista, and the company has shown great appreciation for its champion. So why pair him with Marc Marquez? For Ducati, it was more about creating the strongest possible team than showing any lack of confidence in Pecco. Similarly, much of the pressure may initially be on Marquez, allowing Bagnaia to capitalize on his deep knowledge of the Desmosedici and his established rapport with the team. Pecco is four years younger than his new teammate, and his 11 Grand Prix wins in 2024—despite not securing the world title—serve as the best possible challenge to Marquez. Beating Marquez in an internal team battle could be the ultimate confirmation—if any were still needed—of Bagnaia's greatness.
Cons – It is no secret that Bagnaia's Achilles' heel is his tendency to crash too often. A Marquez who is immediately pushing to the limit could create enormous pressure on the Italian champion, especially with the media already fixated on the Ducati team rivalry. This will be an extremely intense battle, both in terms of speed and mental strength. While Marquez may want to maintain a harmonious team environment, he is fully aware that his time at Ducati represents perhaps the final challenge of his long career, and he will be willing to use every possible advantage. Pecco enters this internal battle—the toughest of his career—at 28 years old and in peak form. The GP25 will be the bike to beat, and if Bagnaia fails to win a single title during his two seasons alongside Marquez—who is now past the injuries of 2020—it could lead to unexpected consequences for his future.
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