Lewis Hamilton says he is impressed with how hard his new team mate Charles Leclerc works behind the scenes.
Leclerc is heading into his eighth season in Formula 1 and seventh as a Ferrari driver. Hamilton, who is 13 years older than his latest team mate, said Leclerc’s work ethic is his strongest quality as a driver.
“Naturally, you don’t know what happens behind closed doors,” said Hamilton. “I think every driver works really hard, but everyone has a different method in how they achieve their ultimate performance.
“It’s been really interesting to see. It’s not too dissimilar to mine, and you just see a hard-working kid just getting on with it.”
Hamilton, who has joined his new team from Mercedes, sees Leclerc as “very, very, very much ‘Mr Ferrari’.”
The seven-times world champion’s arrival has brought more attention upon what is already F1’s most historic and famous team. However Hamilton said he isn’t feeling under more pressure to succeed.
“I don’t really approach this role with pressure,” he said. “I think over the years, the pressure I put on myself has always been ten times higher than any other pressure that could be put upon me.
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“I haven’t joined this team and been made to feel any pressure. I have an expectation for myself: I know what I can bring, I know what I can deliver, and I know what it’s going to take. It’s just about getting my head down and working away.”
This weekend will be the first time Hamilton has competed in a grand prix without a Mercedes power unit. He said there are many changes he is still getting used to after 12 seasons at the same team.
“I come with a very open mind into this weekend,” he said. “It’s about getting into a good rhythm.
“I’m still learning this new car, that’s quite a lot different from what I’ve driven my whole career, in the sense of the Mercedes power coming to the Ferrari power, it’s something quite new – different vibration, different feel, different way of working.
“The whole team works completely differently. I was just sitting, looking at last year’s race traces and it’s upside-down compared to the previous ones, what I’ve been used to. I don’t understand it all.
“You’re looking at things from a different perspective and that makes it exciting and challenging. This is definitely the most exciting period of my life. I’m really enjoying it, and I’m so excited to get in the car tomorrow.”
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2025 Australian Grand Prix
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