Formula One star Charles Leclerc disclosed his enjoyment of working with the Ferrari freshman Lewis Hamilton during his first week with the new team.
The Monegasque driver has outlined the seven-time champion’s impact after a fresh start with the racing giants.
Both Lecler and Hamilton are set to bring the Formula One trophy back to Ferrari, as the Italian team has not won a championship since 2008.
However, Leclerc has admitted a new and quieter role since the Englishman’s arrival, as he found himself comfortable in his ‘shadow’.
He said: ‘When I joined, I only had one year in Formula 1 so it was still new to me and I had to learn how a team like Ferrari would work in Formula 1. For Lewis, an Italian team is new to him, but he’s achieved so much.
‘It’s really cool to see what it was like for him to have so much success in other teams and the way they used to work.
Charles Leclerc has revealed his first thoughts after working with Lewis Hamilton since the 40-year-old driver’s arrival at Ferrari
Both Leclerc and Hamilton are eager to return the Formula One trophy back to the Italian team as they have not won a championship since 2008
‘We’ve learned a lot and it was really exciting also to see how happy and excited he was about the whole thing.
When quizzed on his own ambitions, Leclerc added: ‘For me, that meant that the off-season was a bit more in the shadow, but I enjoyed it.’
Hamilton came second-fastest on the second day of Formula One pre-season testing in Bahrain, just 0.031 seconds behind Carlos Sainz.
Meanwhile, Leclerc came third in the post-lunch session, 0.052 seconds behind the Englishman.
‘I was surprised – our driving style is very similar. We both like to push quite a lot, especially the entries and on that, we are similar,’ added the Monegasque.
‘That’s positive because I think it requires the same thing out of the car and I think as a team that is always a good thing because we’re definitely pushing in the same direction because we need the same things.
‘That was good and we’re working super well together. We’ve spent quite a bit of time together since the beginning of the year.
‘Less on track, more in the studio to do pictures, which is not the part we enjoy most, but it’s part of the job. I’m looking forward to race with him and hopefully bring Ferrari back to the top.’
Hamilton finished second on the second day of the pre-season testing, just 0.031 seconds behind Carlos Sainz
The 40-year-old has hit back at critics in an interview with Time magazine ahead of his first season with the Prancing Horse
Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes was often labelled as ‘suicidal’ and provoked criticism from across the Formula One world.
Since joining his boyhood team, the 40-year-old has vowed to make another attempt for a historic eighth championship victory.
‘You can’t compare me to another 40-year-old, past or present, Formula One driver in history. Because they are nothing like me,’ said Hamilton in an interview with Time magazine on Thursday.
‘I’m hungry, driven, don’t have a wife and kids. I’m focused on one thing, and that’s winning. That’s my No 1 priority.’