Hamilton will end his long-existing ties with Mercedes to move to Ferrari next season on a multi-term deal as the sport’s most decorated driver and team cross paths.
The seven-time F1 champion will replace Carlos Sainz to partner incumbent Leclerc as the pair endeavour to end Ferrari’s elongated title drought dating back to 2008.
Leclerc, a Ferrari F1 driver since 2019, is relishing the chance to prove what he can do up against Hamilton, the series’ most successful ever driver with 105 race wins.
The Monegasque, who has taken his win tally to seven with two victories in 2024, is eager to unearth the qualities that have helped Hamilton to sustain success in F1.
“I will be super curious to see what he has done right for all his career to have had all the success that he’s had,” Leclerc told The Race.
“He has very little weaknesses – well actually, I don’t know any weaknesses of Lewis. He’s a super strong driver, always there, super fast, super consistent.
“It will be super interesting for me to learn from Lewis, as much as showing what I am capable of in the same car as Lewis. These two things motivate me a lot.”
That combination has prompted the Ferrari protege to be lauded as a driver who boasts the capabilities to ruin Hamilton’s dream of seizing a record eighth title in red.
When it was put to him that the public regards him as someone who boasts the credentials to beat Hamilton, Leclerc responded: “Well, that’s good to hear.
“I don’t really think about what the expectations are because for me I have just got to focus on what I have to do.
“I always like to focus a lot more on the process to try and achieve great things instead of [first] thinking about the great things and then thinking about the process.”
Having usurped four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel to the point Ferrari dropped him, Leclerc will harbour no concerns about Hamilton being his opposite number.
Sainz, who was chosen as Vettel’s replacement, has proven to be a close match in pace terms to Leclerc, but the latter has continued to remain the marque’s best bet.
But while some individuals would demand that position to be rewarded with a side built around them, Leclerc insists he works best when he has an internal challenge.
“Since I got into Formula 1, I have been very lucky,” he acknowledged.
“Instead of thinking that I wish I had a number two driver as a team-mate, I have always thought it is so much better to have the best as your team-mate.
“I have had very, very fast team-mates who have pushed me forward and with Lewis I will learn a lot as well.”
