Flavio Briatore claimed that Charles Leclerc would surpass Lewis Hamilton in the upcoming season if Ferrari fails to make necessary improvements. The news of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025, utilizing his exit clause, came as a major shock to the Formula 1 community. Hamilton aims to secure his eighth world title with Ferrari, but the Italian team must narrow the gap to Red Bull and develop a competitive car before his arrival. However, former Benetton manager Briatore has cautioned Ferrari about a potential concern regarding Hamilton’s attitude.
One notable aspect of Lewis Hamilton is his willingness to express his dissatisfaction. The British driver has always been vocal about the performance of Mercedes cars, and he is likely to do the same at Scuderia Ferrari. Briatore suggests that drivers with this trait may not put in extra effort if they feel the cars are not competitive enough, potentially leading to decreased productivity from Hamilton.
According to Briatore, Charles Leclerc is an underrated driver who approaches his work differently from Hamilton. If Ferrari is not the leading team, Leclerc may have the advantage over Hamilton. Although Ferrari has achieved two podium finishes this season, Briatore believes that the team’s car needs improvement for any driver to make a significant impact.
At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc outperformed both Lewis Hamilton and another driver. This impressive performance has led many to believe in Leclerc’s potential and consider him as a possible candidate for the Ferrari seat in 2025. However, the team principal has stated that it is too early to make any decisions regarding the future.
Currently, Ferrari is focused on managing their existing drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who have multi-year contracts. The team principal emphasizes that since Hamilton has not yet joined the team, it is premature to speculate about Ferrari’s future beyond his arrival.