Lewis Hamilton has finally given 2025’s most underrated F1 driver the credit he deserves

Follow us on Google Discover

McLaren are dominating the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris going head-to-head for the title. Inevitably, that has made them the centre of attention.

Max Verstappen’s run of four straight titles looks set to come to an end, fuelling speculation that the frustrated world champion could seek a way out of Red Bull. George Russell’s anticipated contract extension should bring that story to a temporary end.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has struggled since joining Ferrari, perhaps the biggest driver move in the sport’s history. With these drivers hogging the headlines, there hasn’t been much room for anyone else.

And that may have seen some outstanding performances slip under the radar. Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc is perhaps one of the victims.

Lewis Hamilton wants to join ‘amazing’ Charles Leclerc on the F1 podium

Leclerc sits fifth in the world championship heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix. That’s not particularly eye-catching, given that he was third last year and has previously finished as the runner-up.

But Leclerc, in a similar vein to Russell, seems to have almost always extracted the maximum from an underperforming Ferrari car. He has beaten Hamilton, the most decorated driver in F1 history, in 22 of the 30 competitive sessions where both have been classified.

Only the two McLaren drivers have scored more podiums than Leclerc’s five, but the Monegasque is responsible for 100% of his team’s tally. Russell, 18 points ahead, is now in his sights.

Earlier this year, F1TV pundit Jolyon Palmer says Leclerc’s ‘phenomenal’ results were being ‘overlooked’. The 27-year-old has only featured in the top two for Driver of the Day voting twice.

Speaking at a fan event in Budapest, Hamilton finally gave Leclerc the recognition his 2025 performances deserve.

“Charles has been doing an amazing job this year, and he’s already had so many podiums,” he said. “My job this weekend is to work together collectively with Charles.

“If we can get both of us together on the podium, if we can challenge the McLarens, that would be insane.”

Why Charles Leclerc was amused by Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari feedback ‘documents’

Ralf Schumacher thinks Ferrari will listen to Leclerc more than Hamilton due to his superior results. This could be important in determining the philosophy of the 2026 car.

Before the last race in Belgium, Hamilton said he was sending feedback ‘documents’ to Ferrari as he tries to reshape the team. The intra-team rivalry has yet to spark into life at Maranello but there may be a subtle battle for influence.

Leclerc almost laughed when asked about Hamilton’s documents, likely because the story had been blown out of proportion. This is apparently standard practice among F1 drivers, rather than a revolutionary step from the seven-time world champion.