According to ex-Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, Leclerc can gain valuable lessons from Hamilton in this crucial aspect as they gear up to be teammates at Ferrari in 2025.
Lewis Hamilton is considered to be a more well-rounded driver compared to Charles Leclerc.
Before the F1 2024 season started, Hamilton utilized a clause in his Mercedes contract to switch to Ferrari with only six races left in the season. Hamilton had achieved six of his seven Drivers’ titles with Mercedes during their dominant streak, where Mercedes won eight consecutive Constructors’ titles from 2014-21.
At Ferrari, Hamilton will compete with Leclerc, a Driver Academy graduate who has been with the team since 2019, so Steiner was questioned about Leclerc’s potential to challenge Hamilton further.
Efficient, thorough driver when computing. Has witnessed a lot. He has accomplished a lot.
Even when he’s not on the racetrack, his focus on racing and involvement in other activities is so intense that it makes you wonder how he manages everything. However, I believe he is simply well-organized. And throughout the years, he discovered that. If Charles is smart, we will take note and think, ‘I can achieve success like him too’.
“And I’m not sure Charles would have done that so effectively, two, three years ago.”
In terms of driving, I believe Charles can also impress and surprise. When it comes to driving, he is as skilled as Lewis. However, Lewis is a more well-rounded race car driver. He has the speed, but he is more well-rounded than Charles because of his youth and lack of experience compared to Lewis. “He is able to gain knowledge from him.”
However, when discussing Leclerc’s abilities as a whole, podcast presenter Tom Clarkson highlighted Monza as evidence of Leclerc’s development. The Ferrari driver’s impressive one-stop strategy enabled him to surprise McLaren and claim victory at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, delighting the Tifosi.
Clarkson commented that he believes Charles is displaying new skills in his performance on the race track this year. “Monza, fantastic race.” Fantastic plan to execute a single pit stop strategy.