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“It Was a Devastating Result for [Charles LeClerc]”: Lewis Hamilton Went to the Ferrari Side in 2019 After His Future Team’s Loss

Published 03/01/2024, 8:53 AM EST

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via Reuters

Now that Lewis Hamilton is moving to Ferrari in 2025, how does he fit in with Charles Leclerc? That’s a question that is running on everyone’s mind. The two drivers come from different generations of the sport, with Hamilton nearing the end of his career and Leclerc just getting started. Both these drivers are highly respected in the sport and drive for the same dream, winning the world championship. However, only one of the two has met this goal, and this begs the question: Will Charles Leclerc be able to compete for the championship?

While that question has been looming over the driver’s head since he started in F1, many think that it’s a dream that might come true soon. The monégasque driver has always had a dream to win the world championship with Ferrari. But with Lewis Hamilton set to be on the team soon, this might prove to be difficult. The one thing that many F1 fans have missed is the time from 2019 when Leclerc was leading Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix only to come third due to an engine blowout. This led to an interesting interaction between the two.

A word of advice from Lewis Hamilton

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Bahrain GP 2019 was a tough time for Charles Leclerc as his blockbuster debut in Ferrari did not see his car performing well. While he still managed to finish on the podium, his entry as a Ferrari driver will always remain bittersweet. After the race, Hamilton said, “I had to go and see Charles because he did such a great job. I’m sure it was a devastating result for him because he’d done the job to win. We were lucky. This guy has a lot of race wins coming in the future.”

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“You have to take it as it comes,” said Hamilton, about the incident that prevented Leclerc’s Ferrari debut race win. The Briton decided to talk to the young driver and share some advice saying that Leclerc has “wins in him.” And 5 years later, they are set to meet on the track again tomorrow. This has everyone wondering who will be able to take the lead during the first race of the 2024 season. Even though Lewis Hamilton is making his move to Ferrari next year, his friendly rivalry with Leclerc will continue as they are both strong contenders for the world champion title.

With the 7-time world champion switching to Red, Leclerc will be under more pressure than before. But this might just help him shine as competition is something he is up for all the time. It will not be easy for the 26-year-old, but driving in the same car as the multiple record-holding driver will give him a better idea of where he stands. That being said, he had earlier revealed his thoughts on Lewis joining the team.

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Charles Leclerc’s take on Hamilton joining Ferrari

Leclerc is looking forward to driving with Lewis Hamilton in 2025 and when asked about how he reacted to the news, he said, “Well, obviously these kind of deals are not finalised overnight, so it takes of course time.” He added, “I was aware of those discussions before signing my [new] deal. It didn’t come out as a surprise after signing. For the rest, I don’t want to comment on it much, mostly out of respect for Carlos. We’ve had great years together and we have one more together to do.”

via Imago

The French driver is about to get into the qualifiers as steps into his last season alongside Carlos Sainz Jr. The drivers have driven together since 2021 and have shared quite a bond over the years. It’s safe to say that they are good friends. But the dynamics are sure to shift once Lewis Hamilton takes the seat. That being said, do you think Charles Leclerc will be able to shine in Ferrari once the 7-time world champion joins the Prancing Horses? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Viren Mirpuri

920Articles

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Viren Mirpuri is an F1 Writer at EssentiallySports. With a Degree in Mass Media and a Specialization in Journalism, Viren is known for his speedy race day coverage outside of discussing the engine technicalities. Whether he's dissecting the latest technical innovations or unraveling the drama on and off the track, he ensures that his readers stay engaged and informed.
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Edited by:

Abhishek Manikandan