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Charles Leclerc was thrilled with his duel against Lewis Hamilton and thinks it’s a good omen for Ferrari for the remainder of the season.
Both Hamilton and Leclerc went at each other throughout the Chinese Grand Prix, trading positions on several occasions.
In the end, despite complaining about his lack of power, Lewis Hamilton managed to secure third place for himself, earning his first podium with Ferrari in the process.
A maiden Grand Prix win for Kimi Antonelli, as well as a first podium appearance for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari! 🍾
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For Leclerc, it was a bittersweet moment, as he was happy to see Hamilton get his first podium since joining the team, but it meant he just missed out.
Despite this, Charles Leclerc is optimistic about his partnership with the seven-time world champion and what they can achieve together with Ferrari.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Kimi Antonelli immediately after winning the Chinese Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc says Lewis Hamilton battle shows Ferrari can be ‘competitive’ with Mercedes
Charles Leclerc spoke after the Chinese Grand Prix about the intense battle he had with Lewis Hamilton during the race.
Despite coming out on the losing end, Leclerc was thrilled with the battle he had with Hamilton. On top of that, seeing both Ferrari cars competing at a high level is a sign of progress for the team.
“I loved it (battle with Lewis)! I’m sure Fred didn’t enjoy it as much, and the team probably felt a bit of pressure during the race. Honestly, it’s great to see a race like this in Formula 1.”
“Since the start of the season, it’s clear that Lewis is incredibly fast. He was fast last year, too, but the cars were very different. It’s fantastic to have both cars competitive now.”
“With these new regulations, every little advantage counts in the battle, and being able to challenge Mercedes consistently with Lewis is really positive. So yeah, it’s good.”
READ MORE: Fred Vasseur says Lewis Hamilton is finally ‘pushing’ Charles Leclerc in Ferrari battle
Some sensational performances in Shanghai 🔥 Who is your pick for Driver of the Day at the Chinese Grand Prix?
Charles Leclerc disappointed for himself, but thrilled for Lewis Hamilton
Speaking further, Leclerc admitted that Hamilton had the pace advantage on the day. Despite the negative outcome for him, Leclerc was thrilled for his teammate and vowed to come back stronger.
“Today, Lewis was just faster from start to finish. I had a few laps where I could push a bit more, but overall, he was ahead this weekend.”
“Congrats to him, I’m happy for him and his podium. Of course, I’m a bit disappointed to be off the podium myself, but that’s racing. I’ll work on being stronger next time here.”
Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence with Ferrari has been nothing short of sensational. After a few years of underwhelming performances, the legendary Briton looks back to his best.
For Charles Leclerc, seeing Hamilton rise to the occasion will be an excellent motivating factor for the remaining races this season.
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