Charles Leclerc makes his feelings known about Lewis Hamilton joining him at Ferrari in 2025
Ahead of Lewis Hamilton's formal induction into Scuderia Ferrari, his new teammate Charles Leclerc shared his thoughts on the transition. Speaking at the FIA gala, the Monegasque opined that the seven-time world champion's experience with different teams and knowledge of data analysis will push not only the team but also him as a driver.
Rwanda hosted the FIA end-of-season prize distribution ceremony for the 2024 season, where Leclerc marked his presence, representing Ferrari. He finished P3 in the championship standings and was awarded a trophy at the eceremny in Kigali.
Meanwhile, during the pre-event interview, the Monegasque shared his feelings on Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari switch. Leclerc referred to the 39-year-old as a legend of F1. He further acknowledged the Brit's extraordinary success not just with Mercedes but also with McLaren. Leclerc said (via,
"For the team, Lewis is a legend of our sport, and he's achieved so much, and in different teams as well. He's achieved so much in McLaren, he's also achieved so much in Mercedes, and now that he comes to Ferrari, with all this knowledge, all this experience, will help a lot the team and will push forward the team."
Besides the team's benefit, Charles Leclerc also said he feels that Hamilton will push him as a teammate. He plans to use the veteran's knowledge and experience to his advantage. He said,
"And same for me, he will push me forward for sure, with his talent being able to look at the data, knowing that whatever he does inside this car, I can do because we've got now the same car. It's going to be a big challenge, and I'm very motivated for that."
Lewis Hamilton skipped the FIA gala as he was on his farewell tour with Mercedes. His final journey began in Malaysia with Petronas before he met the team at the Brackley and Brixworth factories. Team principal Toto Wolff and other senior engineers shared an emotional hug as the 39-year-old bid a teary goodbye.
Brad Pitt reacts to Lewis Hamilton's farewell video
Mercedes released an emotional farewell video of Lewis Hamilton bidding a final goodbye to the team in the UK. Hollywood actor Brad Pitt reacted to the scenes and acknowledged the 39-year-old's greatness on and off the track. Pitt wrote:
"Lewis, you’ve redefined what it means to be a legend on and off the track. It’s been an honor to witness your greatness. Here’s to what’s next, champ. @LewisHamilton."
Pitt is starring as the lead in an upcoming F1-based movie with Hamilton onboard as one of the producers. Photos showed the cast during shooting during the race weekends throughout the 2024 season. At the Abu Dhabi GP, Brad Pitt enacted a podium ceremony, featuring Charles Leclerc and George Russell.
The movie, co-starring Damson Idris, is slated to release in June 2025. The shooting remains in its final stages, with Lewis Hamilton presumably keeping a close eye on the details of how the true essence of the sport is being captured in the movie.