(Motorsport-Total.com) – David Coulthard, former Formula 1 driver, is confident: Charles Leclerc has the necessary maturity to cope with the enormous pressure of expectations alongside the seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. He emphasizes that the Monegasque will realize that a victory over the Briton is not achievable at every race weekend.
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The dynamics at Ferrari have come into focus after Hamilton’s first win for the team at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona-Catalunya. While the 41-year-old celebrated this milestone, Leclerc experienced a frustrating weekend: after a crash in qualifying, he retired from the race due to a power steering failure.
In the Up To Speed podcast, Coulthard commented on the ongoing discussions about Leclerc and the question of how he will handle the new pressure from his teammate: “I think he has now reached a point in his career where he is mature enough to understand that in a duel against a seven-time world champion, you certainly won’t come out on top every time,” explained the former racer.
“When Hamilton came from Mercedes, it was probably a bit easier for him than expected. He was basically still the one setting the pace in the team. But what we have seen this year – just think back to Shanghai, where they overtook and fought each other.”
“Back then we wondered: ‘Is Ferrari doing the right thing by letting their guys race each other?’ But actually, it was brilliant entertainment for us, and it was the first sign that Lewis Hamilton is back in absolute top form.”
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“He will therefore be disappointed with his own performances in the past Grands Prix. But he has a multi-million, long-term secure contract for the future,” said Coulthard.
| Race | Leclerc (Q) | Hamilton (Q) | Leclerc (R) | Hamilton (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | |
| Australia | 4. | 7. (+0.151) | 3. | 4. (+0.6) |
| China | 4. (+0.013) | 3. | 4. (+3.6) | 3. |
| Japan | 4. | 6. (+0.162) | 3. | 6. (+9.8) |
| Miami | 3. | 6. (+0.176) | 7. (+10.5) | 6. |
| Canada | 8. (+0.108) | 5. | 4. (+33.4) | 2. |
| Monaco | 4. (+0.072) | 3. | Retirement | 2. |
| Barcelona | 10. (no time) | 2. | 15. (+4 laps) | 1. |
“Even if the worst case happens for him and Lewis consistently delivers, wins races, and wins the championship: Lewis will certainly only be around for another two or three years. I can’t imagine him racing for the next five years – which probably corresponds to the contract duration Charles has.”
Hamilton currently holds second place in the drivers’ standings, 41 points behind the leader Kimi Antonelli. Leclerc ranks fourth, 40 points behind his teammate.
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