Charles Leclerc believes Lewis Hamilton’s age won’t impact performance, praising his exceptional fitness and motivation as they prepare for Ferrari’s new era.
Charles Leclerc is unsure whether his younger age compared to Lewis Hamilton will be an advantage, particularly in terms of physical fitness. The 28-year-old driver doubts that his new Ferrari teammate, who turned 40 this year, is in decline.
“I don’t know what it’s like to be 12 years older!” Leclerc said. “So it’s hard to judge. But honestly, from what I’ve seen of Lewis, he’s in very good shape, so I don’t think that plays a role at all.”
“I also think he’s extremely motivated to start this new chapter in his career, so I don’t believe age will have anything to do with what we’ll see on track.”
The Monegasque knows his teammate will be his main source of motivation to perform: “Yes, it’s always the case—teammates always push each other, and you constantly drive the other side of the garage to raise its level.”
“I’ve always had strong teammates in my career, and they are the first benchmark—you always push yourself to do what they do better than you, and that elevates not just the drivers but also the team because everyone is driven forward. So I think it will benefit everyone.”
With Hamilton arriving in Maranello last month as a Ferrari driver for the first time, Leclerc said he was there to welcome the seven-time F1 world champion, and they got along immediately.
“He was super excited. He was extremely excited, but it was also my first day back at the factory, and that’s always a thrilling moment. So we were both excited, but for him, it was very special. He was really eager to try the car in the simulator. He was in a hurry to get my initial impressions.”
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Leclerc: Hamilton’s Fitness and Drive Defy His Age Leclerc: Hamilton’s Fitness and Drive Defy His Age
