Charles Leclerc shares what’s ‘interesting’ about Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari

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Charles Leclerc has now explained what is ‘interesting’ about becoming teammates with Lewis Hamilton in 2025 following the Mercedes star’s decision to go to Ferrari.

The Scuderia have prised Hamilton from Mercedes after the 39-year-old activated a release clause in his contract. Ferrari have also handed the seven-time Formula 1 champion a multi-year contract to replace Carlos Sainz. He will move to Maranello following the 2024 season.

Hamilton only agreed to sign a new contract with Mercedes that covered 2024 and 2025 last August. But his back-to-back winless seasons in 2022 and 2023 convinced the Stevenage-born hero to quit the Silver Arrows before Mercedes unveiled their heavily revised W15 car.

Ferrari sign Hamilton to replace Sainz as Leclerc’s teammate in 2025

Ferrari were in talks with Sainz about his potential new contract with the 29-year-old’s terms expiring after the 2024 season. But their chance to secure Hamilton was just too enticing. It also reunites the Briton with team principal Frederic Vasseur, who worked together in GP2.

Sainz will now see out his fourth and final year with Ferrari while Hamilton sees out his 12th campaign with Mercedes. The Silver Arrows stole the seven-time champion from McLaren in 2013. Hamilton has since won 82 of his Formula 1 record 103 Grand Prix plus six of his titles.

Leclerc says it is ‘always interesting’ to learn from different teammates

Hamilton further claiming 78 of an F1 record 104 pole positions and 148 of an F1 record 197 podiums with Mercedes excites Leclerc with the drivers becoming teammates next year. The 26-year-old is keen to learn as much as he can from a new teammate with such a storied CV.

“When it was official, I spoke to Lewis and we sent each other messages,” Leclerc stated, via quotes by Motorsport-Total. “Lewis is a great champion with a lot of experience. He has had incredible success.

“It’s always interesting to get a new teammate because you can learn something from each teammate, be it the way they work or the way they drive. And, of course, that’s even more true when the new teammate is a seven-time world champion.”

Leclerc has taken five wins, secured 23 pole positions and stood on 30 podiums so far in his Formula 1 career. But the Monegasque has also failed to convert his last 12 poles into a race win. He last took the chequered flag in first after starting in first at the Australian GP in 2022.