Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc spark row as ex-F1 stars disagree with one another
Ferrari will have two major stars on deck when Lewis Hamilton joins next year, and some F1 icons predict a clash with Charles Leclerc is on the cards
Formula 1 icons Jenson Button and Juan Pablo Montoya have differing opinions on the atmosphere awaiting Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. The seven-time world champion is due to end his 11-year stay at Mercedes and swap allegiances for the Prancing Horse ahead of the 2025 campaign.
And it's Montoya's belief that a possible personality clash between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could lead to fireworks at Maranello. Leclerc, 26, has been top dog at Ferrari effectively since his debut in 2019, where he had Sebastian Vettel as his partner prior to Carlos Sainz replacing the German in 2021.
Hamilton, 39, has seen his reputation take a dip amid Mercedes' malaise in recent years, but he moves to Italy hoping to finally get his hands on a record-breaking eighth world title. However, not everyone is of the opinion things will be all that harmonious between Ferrari's latest driver duo.
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"It will be interesting to see how smooth that goes with Charles and Lewis in the cars, to be honest," former Williams and McLaren driver Montoya told RacingNews365. "There's going to be a personality clash there. It's going to be fun to watch."
Leclerc cut an emotional figure after winning the Monaco Grand Prix in May, marking his first F1 race victory in almost two years. The Monegasque will have visions of his own to win a title at Ferrari, and there's every chance he won't take to the idea of being any kind of deputy behind Hamilton.
Button, on the other hand, has suggested Hamilton's maturity will allow him to bed in fairly easily as he joins a new team for the first time in more than a decade. But that's not to say Leclerc couldn't cause complications should he desire.
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“I think if it was Lewis of sort of seven, eight years ago, it will be a tricky relationship," he said during a recent appearance on the Sky F1 podcast. “But now, he just seems so relaxed in himself and no, I don’t think they’re going to have issues as 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, he knows the team, speaks Italian. If he wanted to, he could make it really really difficult for Lewis and that team, the atmosphere."
Hamilton has been candid in the past regarding his ambitions to drive in the iconic red of Ferrari. He currently holds the joint-record for F1 championships, level with a certain Michael Schumacher in the all-time stakes.
It would almost be fate for the Briton to help turn Ferrari's fortunes and finally break Schumacher's record in the team that helped confirm his legendary status. However, the Italians have struggled to seriously challenge Red Bull's dominion in recent years.
Some level of tension between team-mates is natural in F1, and Button - who spent four seasons as Hamilton's team-mate at McLaren - went on to say he's "really, really looking forward to that fight between team-mates." However, Hamilton and Leclerc will have major roles to play in deciding whether that fight leads to F1 gold - and for whom.
