Ferrari to reintroduce 'earn it' approach for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton amid number 1 status
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The upcoming rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari is poised to be one of the most thrilling duels of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Ferrari is determined to correct the missteps of 2024 and secure their first drivers' championship since 2007 and their first constructors' title since 2008. Last season, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz together secured five victories, but it wasn't enough to surpass McLaren's challenge. To significantly enhance their chances for the 2025 title, the team has made a groundbreaking move by signing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton officially began his Ferrari journey this week, completing his first test at the Fiorano Circuit on Wednesday.
Charles Leclerc joined him on track for his first run of the 2025 season, ahead of the upcoming pre-season testing in Bahrain. He expressed his excitement about partnering with the 40-year-old, sending a heartfelt and “very special” message to Hamilton.
The intra-team competition between Hamilton and Leclerc is expected to be one of the most intense in recent history, as the British driver seeks to reignite his career at Ferrari after a series of challenging years with Mercedes.
The question of who will emerge as Ferrari's primary driver in 2025 remains unresolved. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will need to "earn" their spot as the team's number one, a situation reminiscent of the 1959 season when Tony Brooks was in a similar position.
At that time, Tony Brooks joined the Maranello team from Vanwall and went on to finish as the championship runner-up, just behind Jack Brabham. In a conversation on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Tony Brooks revealed that he was told by Ferrari's management that he would not automatically be given the number one role. Instead, he was told that he would have to prove himself worthy of it, just as the Brit and the Monegasque must do today.
Tony Brooks recalled meeting Enzo Ferrari in his office, where they had a very constructive discussion lasting about half an hour. Brooks described the meeting as congenial, during which they discussed the terms of his potential involvement with the team. Ferrari, he mentioned, had explained that he did not appoint a number one driver until the season had begun and performances were evaluated. Ferrari had said that the determination would depend on who was performing well during the season.
Brooks clarified that he hadn't requested the number one driver position, but Ferrari's comment made it clear that the role was earned through results rather than being automatically assigned at the start of the season. Eventually, Brooks became the number one driver based on his performance, rather than any pre-established designation.
The rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari is set to become one of the most captivating storylines of the 2025 Formula 1 season, and the question of who will ultimately come out on top is likely to fuel debates throughout the year.
At this early stage, it’s impossible to predict the outcome or to draw meaningful conclusions from pre-season testing. While Lewis Hamilton clocked a lap time six seconds quicker than Leclerc at Fiorano, this advantage was largely due to Charles Leclerc completing fewer laps under extremely challenging conditions, as he drove through heavy rain.
Charles Leclerc will initially have the upper hand, given his familiarity with the Ferrari setup and his fluency in Italian, which helps him integrate with the team. However, Hamilton is focused on adapting quickly to his new environment at Ferrari and becoming an integral part of the team as soon as possible.
During the test, Lewis Hamilton was seen greeting his new colleagues in Italian, smiling broadly, which suggested he was genuinely excited about his move to Ferrari. Observers noted that Hamilton appeared energized by the new challenge, eager to get started after a difficult and frustrating conclusion to his long career at Mercedes.
The Monegasque driver will undoubtedly be one of Hamilton's toughest teammates to date. The competition between the two is expected to push Hamilton to new heights, and Guenther Steiner, the Haas team principal, believes this challenge is exactly what Hamilton needs as he joins Ferrari, F1's most successful team.
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