Charles Leclerc has advised Sky Sports activities he’s relishing the “huge opportunity” of being team-mate to Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari within the 2025 season.
Negligible over six months sooner than Hamilton swaps Mercedes silver for Ferrari purple in arguably F1’s biggest-ever switch walk, Leclerc – who has solid a friendship together with his upcoming team-mate all the way through his generation within the game – says he’s “really looking forward” to pitting himself in opposition to the seven-time global champion.
“Lewis is the most successful driver in F1 history and for me to be able to drive the same car as Lewis is, first, a huge opportunity to learn from the best ever, as well as a huge motivation to show what I’m capable of,” mentioned Leclerc in an interview with Sky Sports activities F1’s Rachel Brookes.
“So, I’m really excited about this new challenge.
“And now we have a superior dating as neatly. I’ve such a lot appreciate for Lewis and the whole thing he has accomplished and it’s no doubt getting to be a obese generation of my profession to be in opposition to Lewis, clearly operating in combination in order Ferrari again on manage.
“It will be incredible to see where I am compared to Lewis.”
Leclerc, who is thought of as by means of some within the game to be F1’s quickest motive force over a unmarried lap, added: “We all have our specialities; we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Obviously, in the case of Lewis, I’m pretty sure that there are very few weaknesses, but I can definitely learn from his strengths, so it’s going to be super interesting.”
The 2025 Ferrari team-mates have steadily been revealed chatting with every alternative on drivers’ parades forward of races up to now this season.
Requested what they have got been discussing, Leclerc answered: “It’s mixed. Maybe a little bit about just the way it is now with Ferrari and where we are at, but this is a very little part of our discussions because obviously he’s still 100 per cent focused on his season this year in Mercedes, so we cannot exchange about everything yet, of course.
“However simply in preparation of upcoming time perhaps on our ordinary passions that are design and model normally.
“But then I think 80 or 90 per cent of what we speak about is more about private stuff and just about how life is going, music and all of these kinds of things, which is always nice.”
Hamilton: Negative regrets over Ferrari walk amid Mercedes features
Ferrari recently take a seat 2d to global champions Pink Bull within the Constructors’ Championship, two playgrounds forward of Hamilton’s tide staff Mercedes, and feature gained two races up to now this season.
Then again, terminating hour’s Monaco GP – which Leclerc gained impressively – apart, Ferrari have another way been supplanted by means of McLaren as Pink Bull’s upcoming challengers, occasion they have got additionally been outperformed by means of an making improvements to Mercedes on the terminating two occasions too.
That endmost turnaround ended in Hamilton being requested then terminating Sunday’s Spanish GP – the place he claimed his first podium end of the season – whether or not he used to be having 2d ideas about his walk to Italy.
“No, not at all,” mentioned Hamilton.
“I mean, firstly, I love Mercedes. I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13 and I’ll always be a fan and supporter of Mercedes. And my job this year, right now, is to work as hard as I can with the crew that I have, with the people back at the factory to try and move and develop the car in the right direction.
“And so in the long run, no matter direction and trajectory the staff is on for upcoming time, for instance, there are issues that I’ve optimistically been part of and be happy with being part of.
“My activity will get started upcoming time on the alternative staff who I feel are doing a superior activity. I feel they’ve had a few tough races, however let’s no longer put out of your mind that they had a race win in Monaco.
“I can’t tell you what is wrong with their car and why they are in the position they’re in today. But they did bring an upgrade here, and I think they are definitely progressing, but it doesn’t make me second guess my decision at all.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Austrian GP time table
Thursday June 27
12.30pm: Drivers’ Press Convention
Friday June 28
7.50am: F3 Observe
9am: F2 Observe
11am: Austrian GP Observe One (consultation begins at 11.30am)
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: Austrian GP Dash Qualifying (consultation begins at 3.30pm)*
Saturday June 29
8.25am: F3 Dash
10am: Austrian GP Dash (race begins at 11am)*
12.25pm: F2 Dash
2pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Austrian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday June 30
7.25am: F3 Detail Race
8.55am: F2 Detail Race
12:30pm: Elegant Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP response*
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally survive Sky Sports activities Major Match
F1’s triple-header continues on the Austrian Elegant Prix this coming time – with the Dash layout returning on the Pink Bull Ring. Observe each consultation survive Sky Sports activities F1, with Sunday’s obese race at 2pm. Current each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Presen Club – Negative agreement, block anytime
