Charles Leclerc heads into the 2025 Formulation 1 season in an intriguing place. Whereas Ferrari is on the focus, a lot of the highlight is concentrated elsewhere—on Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile arrival. Having spent 17 seasons in F1 and secured seven world championships, Hamilton is not any stranger to being within the thick of the motion. Nevertheless, regardless of Hamilton’s expertise and accolades, he now faces some of the formidable challenges of his profession in Leclerc—even when the Monegasque driver has solely eight Grand Prix victories to his identify.
The previous Alfa Romeo driver’s power lies not simply in uncooked expertise however in his deep-rooted reference to Ferrari. Apart from his rookie yr with Sauber, he has spent the previous six seasons refining his expertise inside probably the most historic staff in F1. Over that point, he established himself by outpacing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and proving his price as Ferrari’s main driver. When staff principal Frédéric Vasseur orchestrated Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari, it was clear that Leclerc—not Carlos Sainz—was the teammate he wished alongside the British famous person.
Fred Vasseur has applied vital structural modifications at Ferrari, lots of which have instantly benefited Charles Leclerc. Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg credited Fred Vasseur’s management as an important consider Charles Leclerc’s 2024 Monza victory, highlighting how the staff’s enhancements have elevated his efficiency.
Now, in line with journalist Matteo Novembrini, the French supervisor has gone even additional by refining how Charles Leclerc approaches every Grand Prix. When requested concerning the changes made since changing Mattia Binotto, Matteo Novembrini pointed to 1 key space of enchancment—Ferrari’s follow session group. Underneath Fred Vasseur’s management, the staff has restructured its follow applications, optimizing automotive setup time and fine-tuning methods tailor-made to Leclerc’s driving model. This shift ensures he’s higher ready for every race weekend, maximizing his potential to extract efficiency from the automotive and problem on the entrance.
Matteo Novembrini offered additional particulars, explaining that this yr, modifications had been evident within the operations on observe. He talked about that Vasseur had fostered a shift in methodology, making a mentality extra centered on race preparation. He pointed to free follow periods for instance, recalling how Leclerc, when making a mistake throughout FP2 on a Friday, would repeatedly ask to attempt once more. In keeping with Novembrini, in earlier years, if a mistake occurred, after two makes an attempt, the staff would swap to specializing in the race setup, whereas below Vasseur, there was a stronger emphasis on race elements ranging from Friday itself.
The Italian journalist additionally famous that when a driver made a mistake with the flawed tire set, there was a noticeable consciousness throughout the staff. He appreciated Vasseur’s method, because the staff chief acknowledged Ferrari’s shortcomings, significantly in understanding and addressing their very own errors. Fred Vasseur’s management, Novembrini noticed, was aimed toward eradicating sure outdated mindsets throughout the staff. Whereas there had been personnel modifications, the staff had not undergone an entire overhaul.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have already begun conversations about Ferrari’s path to success, with each drivers aligning on a standard purpose. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Leclerc’s rising star shouldn’t be far behind Hamilton by way of consideration, and may the 27-year-old begin outperforming the 40-year-old, the focus will doubtless shift in his course.
Reaching this received’t be a easy job, and Hamilton will likely be hoping that final season’s disappointment—being outscored by his teammate George Russell—is just a one-off anomaly somewhat than the start of a regarding development.
Regardless of the aggressive edge Hamilton brings, each he and Leclerc have been engaged in discussions about how to make sure Ferrari’s success transferring ahead. Whereas their goals align, the methods to realize these targets stay a topic of curiosity.
Leclerc has lengthy been recognized for his distinctive one-lap tempo, and with Vasseur’s changes to the follow schedules, there may be potential for the Monegasque driver to additional improve his race-day efficiency. If Leclerc can be taught to copy the consistency proven by seasoned drivers like Hamilton and Max Verstappen on Sundays, there may be each cause to imagine that he may grow to be one of many high contenders for the 2025 Formulation 1 World Championship.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
