Lewis Hamilton has received a cautionary note regarding his future dynamics with teammate Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in the upcoming F1 2025 season.
Hamilton disclosed in February his decision to transition to Ferrari under a multi-year agreement, thus concluding his extensive and triumphant tenure with Mercedes.
This transition places Hamilton, the most decorated driver in history, boasting seven World Championships and over 100 race victories, against Leclerc, widely acknowledged as the quickest individual on the present grid.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hamilton has navigated through various dynamics with his teammates, experiencing both highs and lows. One notable clash transpired with Fernando Alonso at McLaren in 2007, followed by intense title battles with Nico Rosberg throughout three seasons between 2014 and 2016.
Additionally, Jenson Button famously outpaced Hamilton during their shared tenure at McLaren from 2010 to 2012, leading to Hamilton’s subsequent move to Mercedes in 2013.
During an appearance on the Sky F1 podcast, Button contended that Hamilton might have faced challenges in fostering a productive partnership with a driver of Leclerc’s caliber a few years ago.
He further suggested that Leclerc’s tenure at Ferrari, commencing from his transition from Sauber in 2019, could serve as a significant asset in the intra-team competition expected in the forthcoming season. Button remarked, “I think if it was the Lewis of seven or eight years ago, it would be a tricky relationship.
“But now he just seems so relaxed in himself and I don’t think they’re going to have issues being team-mates at all, no more than Carlos [Sainz] and Charles have right now.
“Do I think they’ll work well together? Yes. I think the positives that Charles has is that he knows the team, and speaks Italian. If he wanted to, he could make it really, really difficult for Lewis in that team, the atmosphere.
“And you can say: ‘That’s not sportsmanlike’ – but that’s part of racing. Nico Rosberg will tell you that as well: it’s about getting the team of people behind you, so that gives you strength and it takes away strength from your team-mate.
“But Lewis has been around long enough to understand the situation and I’m really, really looking forward to that fight between team-mates.”
Button emphasized that Hamilton, in his quest for an unprecedented eighth title, must not solely prioritize individual success but instead adapt to a “different way of racing” at Ferrari, where the team’s aspirations supersede those of the drivers at Maranello.
Clarifying his stance, Button articulated, “Obviously, they’re working together. They’re Ferrari, it’s all about Ferrari.
“That’s the one thing with Ferrari. In every other team, you can say the driver’s out for himself. And the team, obviously.
“But in Ferrari, everyone works for Ferrari. It’s all about Ferrari winning the World Championships.
“It’s definitely a different way of racing for someone like Lewis, who is such a star in this sport and suddenly he’s working for Ferrari to win the Championship.
“I look forward to seeing the dynamic there and that’s going to be very exciting next year.”
