Formula 1

“When I’m putting the helmet on, then there’s none of this any more” : Charles Leclerc on showing mercy to new teammate Lewis Hamilton next season Lewis Hamilton made a surprising decision to move to Ferrari at the end of the current F1 season. This decision comes after spending almost a decade at Mercedes, where Lewis Hamilton clinched six of his seven world championship titles. Lewis Hamilton will now team up with one of the most promising drivers on the grid, Charles Leclerc. The Monaco based driver admitted that he was a huge admirer of the Briton while growing up, and it will be a terrific opportunity to race alongside him. He looks forward to learning from his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Moreover, he stated that it would also help him become more competitive by racing alongside the seven-time F1 champion. It will test Leclerc’s mettle and force Hamilton to demonstrate how much he’s got left in the tank. “It’s going to be incredible to have Lewis on the team,” Lecerc told The Gentleman’s Journal. “And, obviously, to be able to have such an incredible champion in the same team as me, with the same car. First, it’s going to be a great opportunity to learn from one of the best ever.” “And second, I think it is going to be an amazing opportunity, also, for me to be able to show what I’m capable of, so I’m really looking forward to it. By being on karting tracks every weekend growing up, it was difficult for me to actually follow a Formula 1 season, so I used to watch some races and he was definitely one of the guys that I looked up to,” said Leclerc. Charles Leclerc comments on driving alongside Lewis Hamilton next season Charles Leclerc was asked if he would show some mercy to Lewis Hamilton next season, given that it would be first season at Ferrari. The Monaco based driver clearly stated that he would treat him as a competitor, and he will not be influenced by his admiration for the seven-time F1 champion. “No, of course not. No, no, no – when I’m putting the helmet on, then there’s none of this any more,” said Leclerc. “You change, you don’t think about who is who and you just go for it. Now I’m racing Lewis, so I’ve got to forget a little bit the names that are inside the paddock, and just focus on my own performance whenever I’m on track,” he added. Lewis Hamilton has been in terrific form over the past couple of weeks leading up to the summer break. The Mercedes driver claimed the race win on his home turf in Silverstone in July. He also won the Belgian GP, after his teammate George Russell was disqualified due to breaching car weight rules. Also Read: “It’s going to be one hell of a second half of the season” : Lewis Hamilton has high hopes for the remainder of the year

“It’s going to be one hell of a second half of the season” : Lewis Hamilton has high hopes for the remainder of the year The 2024 F1 season has been one for the ages, due to its highly competitive nature till now, as seven different drivers have already won a Grand Prix. The top four teams – Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes in the constructor’s standings have been battling it out, and with 10 scheduled races left for the season, nothing can be ruled out just yet. Max Verstappen has continued his dominance from past seasons as Red Bull has maintained a strong lead going into the second half. Meanwhile, Lando Norris is leading the charge as a standout performer for McLaren and the duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are not far off their tails.   F1 veteran Lewis Hamilton himself is excited for the rest of the season and is impressed by the competition he has been facing, but seeing that it is his last stint at Mercedes, the Briton would like to leave on a high note. “It’s really fantastic, I think, for the sport, to be having such close teams and drivers, the pedigree of drivers at the top today are really elite and amazing,” said Lewis Hamilton (via Formula 1). “It would be high hopes” : Lewis Hamilton on having a late title charge Mercedes have gradually improved throughout the course of the season, but the Briton did not expect to compete with the top challengers. He believes that the hopes for a title charge are a little too late now, although if they can keep up with their recent form they can certainly aim for a better finish. “We didn’t expect to be competing with the McLarens or the Red Bulls at this point in the season, you know, with how we started off, so for us to now have closed up and be… It’s going to be one hell of a second half of the season, for sure.” said the Briton. “I mean, if we can continue this kind of performance as we’ve had the last few races, which has been fantastic… I think if we can start our weekends off a little bit better, hopefully we can continue. I think, obviously, the McLaren was very strong [in Belgium], we were just a bit further ahead early on [in the race], but yeah, we’ve just got to keep pushing,” the 39-year-old added. Lewis Hamilton’s teammate George Russell believes that the late resurgence of Mercedes will lead them to perform better in the next season. The promising young talent has often been considered as a future World Championship contender, with his growing experience an important asset for Mercedes to extract from going into the 2025 season. Russell will definitely be the main man for the AMG Petronas once Hamilton leaves for Ferrari. “I think for all of us, it’s been a difficult couple of years getting the car into a place where we can consistently fight for victories, but I’m so motivated, so excited for the second half of the season, which is ultimately building up towards 2025, when you look at the competition now, you know, there’s no reason why we can’t fight, and if the season started in Montreal, the championship standings would be looking very, very different,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s going to be great. I think there’s so much motivation from all the other teams to get back to the front, from McLaren, from Ferrari, from ourselves, so for sure, it’s not going to be easy, and hopefully we see a good fight on our hands into next year,” Russell concluded. F1 fans are surely in for a ride for the second half of the season, as all roads lead to a competitive and exciting finish. Also Read: “It is not impossible” : Lewis Hamilton on Lando Norris challenging Max Verstappen for the F1 title

“He doesn’t come to Ferrari to enjoy his retirement” : Ferrari chairman confident that Lewis Hamilton will win eighth F1 title John Elkann is a prominent figure in the business world, and is known for making strategic and key investments. He serves as the chairman and CEO of Exor, which has made significant contributions in various industries including sports teams like Juventus FC and Ferrari. John Elkann specifically has remained in close ties with Ferrari, and is leading them to restore its previous storied excellence and heritage. This can be seen from the groundbreaking transfer for F1 legend Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton has joined Ferrari and is preparing for a ‘new challenge’ in his career, although many think this he is on his way to retirement. But the Ferrari chairman has different thoughts on this matter, and believes the Briton will bring back greatness for the Italian team, breaking an 18 year long wait for an F1 drivers’ title. Ferrari director believes age will not be a factor for Lewis Hamilton to break records In an interview with Italy’s Corriere dello Sport, the Italian revealed that he is very excited for the seven-time champion’s arrival, and that the 39-year-old (40 by the time he joins) will not slow down in pursuit to win his eighth title. “Certain things happen very quickly. This was the moment when he and Ferrari found each other. Lewis wants his eighth world title, Ferrari also wants to win and with Lewis we are stronger. He is not coming to us to enjoy his retirement and it is important that he has motivated people around him,” stated the 48-year-old. John Elkann believes that competition is getting much higher than before, and the experience of Lewis Hamilton will provide extra motivation for the team to reach its fullest potential. “It is really exciting in Formula 1 now, with four teams very close to each other. It is important to aim for maximum potential. Those with more experience tend to be more consistent and that could be a deciding factor,” the Ferrari director added. In the world of sports, it is not very unusual seeing athletes who were at the top of their respective sports in their prime continue their dominance even in their latter years. Examples like Lionel Messi who won the World Cup while being the best player of the tournament at 35, Cristiano Ronaldo still scoring goals for fun at 39, LeBron James who has arguably been the best player in the Olympics at 39, and most recently, Novak Djokovic who won the Olympic gold at 37 years of age. Similarly, the Ferrari director ensures that Hamilton’s stint at Ferrari will be no different.  “The two of them, Federer, Biles, Ronaldo, Messi and Paltrinieri himself, with dedication and sacrifices they are overcoming the physical limits due to age. It is also true that we are in a historical phase in which we live longer and the careers of sportsmen and women are also extended.” Elkann concluded. Lewis Hamilton has been at the pinnacle of his sport for over a decade now, and if someone can bring home an eighth F1 title at the age of 40, he is certainly the man to put your money on the line. Also Read: “The fact that I am not the bookmakers’ favorite is just a motivation for me” : Novak Djokovic ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics

“He clearly wants to have another chapter in his career” : Andrew Shovlin reveals reason behind Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes departure Lewis Hamilton was set to extend his Mercedes contract by two more years, but the bombshell news of him leaving the Silver Arrows to join the Prancing Horses earlier this season left everyone in shock. Many were left wondering the reason behind his switch to Ferrari. Although after making this announcement, things have not looked that bad at Mercedes, as the team has overall performed on a better level than before. Lewis Hamilton has claimed two victories this season in Silverstone and Spa, his first coming at home after a lengthy dry spell of almost three years. The Briton has also been taking part with the engineering team, particularly the trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin, providing crucial feedbacks on the car’s performances and weaknesses. He remains a key central figure in the team, and looks forward to the remainder of the season. During this resurgence, questions were led to be asked whether or not the 39-year-old will regret leaving Mercedes. “I think his biggest reasons are not necessarily ones of car performance” : Mercedes engineering director Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin have had a significant professional relationship over the years, with many successes coming along the way. Having worked closely with the Briton, Shovlin addressed the reason as to why he is leaving Mercedes at this point in his career. “I think his biggest reasons are not necessarily ones of car performance. He clearly wants to have another chapter in his career beyond his very successful one with Mercedes. He’s of an age where if he was going to do that, he would need to do it sooner rather than later,” said the 50-year-old (via GP Fans). Andrew Shovlin also said that the Briton is looking for a different challenge in his already storied career. Add that to his childhood dream of dawning the Italian colors, it was a timely decision made by the 39-year-old, as his racing days are gradually coming to an end. “As I said, if we were dominating a championship, I suspect it would have been difficult for him to do that [exit], but I think a big part of Lewis is wanting to have another team and another challenge in his career. I think when someone’s decided that they want to do that, it can be quite difficult to persuade them otherwise,” the Mercedes director added. The successful pair will part ways after this season, as Mercedes remains optimistic about their performance and the potential for further successes, while the legend of Lewis Hamilton will continue at the Scuderia, teaming up with Charles Leclerc on the way. Also Read: “That’s not my problem either” : Max Verstappen responds to Lewis Hamilton’s ‘act like a world champion’ claim

“I wish I could go to one of his races” : Simone Biles reveals her conversation with Lewis Hamilton Professional athletes of different sports have made a cultural habit of linking up with each other, especially in this new modern era. Most recently, Simone Biles expressed her desire in attending a race to watch Lewis Hamilton. Simone Biles and Lewis Hamilton have been widely considered the ‘GOAT’ in their respective sports, but their relationship goes way back as well. Both are prominent figures in advocating mental health, and the Brit has publicly spoken about her accomplishments, and even backed her during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the gymnast unfortunately had to withdraw from the competition. Simone Biles made an unbelievable return at the Paris Olympics, winning three gold medals, including an all-around-title while also leading team USA to a gold medal in the women’s gymnastics team final. This incredible comeback was marked by her focus on overcoming past mental health issues, such as ‘twisties’ which affected her during the last Olympics. Simone Biles speaks on supporting Lewis Hamilton Over the past few years, both athletes have shown to have a mutual respect and admiration of each other’s accomplishments, be it during events or on social media. Simon Biles revealed that she does not follow Formula One, but would certainly love to be in the stands to witness Lewis Hamilton. “I actually do not,” she said when asked if she watches F1. “Lewis is great and I want to go out to one of his races. So I’ve been talking to him about that. I really wanted to go to the one in Austin, but unfortunately, I’m on tour, but I do wish I could go to one of his races.” said the superstar Olympian (via her Instagram live). Since F1 races happen all over the world, Simone Biles will also need to check her calendar as to which race she could attend. However, with the increased number of races happening in the United States, Simone Biles could very well visit a circuit or two. “Told him to send me his schedule so we could see the next one. I mean obviously they’re all around the world so we’re gonna have to make a trip,” concluded the 27-year-old. Lewis Hamilton has shown to be a huge supporter of women in sports, and has actively tried to tackle the lack of diversity in motorsport. The latest Ferrari signing definitely would not mind some extra support, as he owes the American gymnast a weekend at the races. Also Read: “That’s not my problem either” : Max Verstappen responds to Lewis Hamilton’s ‘act like a world champion’ claim

“Lewis Hamilton brings his own personal baggage” : Ferrari Team Principal describes importance of cultural mix Talks were to surely continue all summer when one of the greatest F1 drivers, Lewis Hamilton switched teams in order to fulfill his childhood dream of racing for Ferrari. This also helped him in reuniting with Ferrari’s team principal Frederic Vasseur, with whom he has a vivid history with since his junior racing days. Frederic Vasseur has been seemingly optimistic about the signing of Lewis Hamilton, and has not shied away from expressing his excitement over it. The Ferrari boss firmly believes the addition of Briton can bring about a new change culturally, all while receiving the much-needed experience and ‘personal baggage’ of seven-time champion. Vasseur, who knows Hamilton’s qualities, and apart from his seven F1 titles, acknowledges his experience in working with top teams such as Mercedes and McLaren. He believes the veteran can boost the whole team’s confidence by motivating and pushing them to further heights, not just on track but off the track as well. “One thing that is valid for Lewis, but also for the engineers, is that it is important to have a cultural mix, with people from different backgrounds, experiences and education. Hamilton brings his own personal baggage,” said the Ferrari team principal, as quoted by the Mirror UK. “Charles can learn a lot from Lewis” : Fred Vasseur aims for a positive dynamic and winning mindset Lewis Hamilton has certainly shown no signs of slowing down as he achieved a record-breaking ninth victory at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, marking his first win since 2021. He also set a new record for the most wins at a single circuit. The Briton and his new team will surely hope his form continues onto the 2025 season as well. Lewis Hamilton’s newest teammate Charles Leclerc is focused on building on his past successes ever since joining Ferrari as a full-time driver in 2019. Although, Lewis Hamilton has a record of clashing with previous teammates (most notably Fernando Alonso at McLaren), Vasseur admits that he has no concern over this matter right now. The Frenchman believes that the storied career of the veteran can push Charles Leclerc to the next gear and greatly benefit on having him on the team. “They are at different points in their careers. Charles can learn a lot from Lewis, who has 18 seasons of Formula 1 under his belt and has gained a huge amount of experience. I am sure that their relationship will be positive and this will create a beneficial dynamic for the team.” Were the exact words from the Ferrari team principal. Safe to say, both Ferrari drivers are set to continue to make waves in the F1 world, be it for setting up greater standards or solidifying their place on the team. Also Read: “That’s not my problem either” : Max Verstappen responds to Lewis Hamilton’s ‘act like a world champion’ claim