Why ex-Ferrari engineer feels Lewis Hamilton can win internal battle with Charles Leclerc next year
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Lewis Hamilton is set to face Charles Leclerc in one of the most anticipated teammate matchups in recent Formula 1 history. The Monegasque driver has been aware since winter that he would be joining forces with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion in 2025.
Lewis Hamilton has already gone head-to-head with several iconic drivers throughout his career, such as Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, and Nico Rosberg. However, some argue that Leclerc's raw speed might outshine them all.
With 26 pole positions to his name, Leclerc trails Rosberg by just four, despite never enjoying the advantage of a dominant car like the one Rosberg had at Mercedes for three seasons. Esteban Ocon has remarked that, apart from Max Verstappen, no one rivals Charles Leclerc's natural talent.
Charles Leclerc’s blistering pace in qualifying could present a challenge for Lewis Hamilton, who struggled in one-lap performance throughout 2024, losing the qualifying battle to George Russell with seven races still remaining. While Hamilton has had trouble getting his tyres up to temperature, some argue that this issue doesn’t necessarily reflect a loss of outright speed. On the other hand, Charles Leclerc's ability to manage his tyres in qualifying has become one of his defining strengths.
Still, Charles Leclerc's critics often point to his perceived lack of ruthlessness, a trait Lewis Hamilton—now a seasoned veteran with over 350 races—may exploit. One pundit even suggested that Charles Leclerc is “too nice” to withstand the fierce competition that awaits between the two drivers.
Rob Smedley, who served as Felipe Massa’s race engineer at Ferrari during the intense Hamilton-Massa rivalry of the late 2000s, weighed in on the potential Lewis Hamilton – Charles Leclerc dynamic.
The British driver burst onto the scene in 2007 with McLaren, immediately competing for the title and narrowly missing out to Kimi Raikkonen. The following year, he famously snatched the championship from Massa in a dramatic final lap in the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit.
Discussing the upcoming challenge on the “Formula For Success” podcast, Rob Smedley acknowledged that while Lewis Hamilton won't underestimate Charles Leclerc, the 105-time Grand Prix winner is still mentally and physically capable of prevailing over his new teammate. Though Lewis Hamilton's peak might eventually decline, Rob Smedley believes he remains in a strong enough position to beat Charles Leclerc and secure an unprecedented eighth world championship.
The former Ferrari engineer explained: "I think that Lewis is a true professional. I think he knows how good Charles is. But he will also back himself to beat him over 24 races.” – he pointed out.
When questioned by Eddie Jordan if he would d do so, Rob Smedley continued: "I think he will. I think he will. I think there'll come a point when he won't be able to do that anymore. But it's certainly not now. I mean the guy's so fit. He's so mentally strong."
In just six races, Lewis Hamilton will part ways with the Brackley-based Mercedes team, marking the end of an era. Having claimed 84 victories with the team over the past 11 years, his farewell in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit is sure to be an emotional one.
At the same time, Lewis Hamilton’s attention is gradually turning toward his next chapter with Scuderia Ferrari. The British driver is reportedly already learning Italian, following a path similar to Michael Schumacher’s when he made his legendary move to Maranello and cemented his place in the sport’s history.
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