Charles Leclerc has found himself in an unusual position heading into the 2025 Formula 1 season. With the arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, much of the attention has shifted away from Leclerc, allowing him to focus quietly on his preparations. This shift in the spotlight has proven to be an advantage for the Monegasque driver, who is determined to start the season in the best possible way.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has dominated headlines, sparking widespread discussion on social media and in the paddock. The magnitude of the attention surrounding the British driver contrasts sharply with Leclerc’s own introduction to the Italian team back in 2019, when he was promoted from Sauber to partner Sebastian Vettel. Back then, Leclerc was still a newcomer to Formula 1, adjusting to life at a top team. Now, he finds himself in a vastly different situation.

“Obviously, it’s very different, the situation that Lewis finds himself in joining the team,” Leclerc admitted. “When I joined, I had only done one year in Formula 1, so everything was still new to me. I had to learn how a team like Ferrari operates in Formula 1, even though I was familiar with the factory and the environment from my time in the Ferrari Driver Academy.”

For Hamilton, however, joining Ferrari represents an entirely new challenge. Having spent years dominating the sport with Mercedes, he now steps into an unfamiliar Italian setting, but with an undeniable legacy already established. “For Lewis, an Italian team is new to him, but he’s achieved so much and arrives here as a legend of the sport. It’s really fascinating to see how he has adapted, bringing with him a wealth of experience from different teams and different working methods,” Leclerc said.

While the focus has largely been on Hamilton’s transition, Leclerc has embraced the opportunity to quietly fine-tune his own preparations. “For me, that meant that the off-season was a bit more in the shadow, but I enjoyed it. I focused on myself. I’m pushing at the maximum to be ready for the first race, and I’m really looking forward to this year, hoping we’ll start in a more positive way compared to last year.”

Beyond their individual preparations, Leclerc and Hamilton have also been building a working relationship. Despite initial expectations that their driving styles might differ significantly, Leclerc was pleasantly surprised by the similarities they share behind the wheel. “I was surprised—our driving style is very similar. We both like to push quite a lot, especially in the entries to the corners, so that’s positive because it requires the same thing out of the car.”

This common approach has already fostered strong collaboration within the team. “As a team, that is always a good thing because we’ll definitely push in the same direction, since we need the same things from the car. We’re working super well together. We’ve spent quite a bit of time together since the beginning of the year. Less on track, more in the studio doing pictures—which is not the part we enjoy most, but it’s part of the job. But I’m looking forward to racing alongside him and hopefully bringing Ferrari back to the top.”

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has also addressed the increased media frenzy surrounding Hamilton’s arrival but insists that the team remains fully focused on its goals. “I think everybody and every single team is excited at the beginning of the season—it’s the DNA of our sport. We all have the feeling that we can be world champions at the beginning. And when you speak to the drivers or the teams, we are all positive.”

Vasseur further emphasized that despite the immense marketing buzz surrounding Hamilton’s move, the team has not lost sight of its core objectives. “In our case, in our situation, it went very well this winter. For sure, we had a huge wave of marketing, but the team stayed focused throughout the winter.”

As the 2025 season approaches, Ferrari’s dynamic driver pairing of Leclerc and Hamilton has the potential to be one of the most compelling storylines of the year. While Hamilton’s presence brings undeniable star power, Leclerc is poised to prove that he remains a key contender for success. With both drivers aligned in their goals and pushing the team forward, Ferrari could be in a prime position to reclaim its status as a dominant force in Formula 1. However, with two highly competitive personalities in the same garage, only time will tell how this partnership will unfold once the racing begins.