Martin Brundle has warned Charles Leclerc – the fastest driver in F1 over one lap according to the Sky F1 commentator – that he would be very ill-advised to write off Lewis Hamilton, his future Ferrari teammate.
For the tifosi, the image of Hamilton in iconic Ferrari red is a tantalizing vision that will become reality in 2025.
But the prospect of the seven-time world champion challenging Leclerc, the Scuderia’s favourite son, is equally alluring.
Brundle acknowledges Leclerc's raw talent, placing him as "potentially the fastest driver out there" over a single lap, even ahead of the reigning champion, Max Verstappen.
He lauds Leclerc's blistering pace but acknowledges his occasional "fly off the road" moments, attributing them to his aggressive, near-the-limit driving style.
However, for all his speed and outstanding talent, the Monegasque must not underestimate Hamilton, insists Brundle, who is keen to remind Leclerc of the Briton’s ability to “win races and championships”, even despite the latter’s victory draught since 2021.
“Leclerc I think is potentially, on an outright qualifying lap, the fastest driver out there at the moment, even including Max Verstappen,” Brundle told Sky Sports News.
“He’s blindingly fast, tends to run into a few things he didn’t ought to from time to time and fly off the road, Charles, because he just drives so near the limit.
“But it’s a wonderful combination and let’s not disregard what a great driver Carlos Sainz is as well, who’s in the Ferrari for the coming season, and presumably he’s got to have a chance to go to Mercedes or some other teams on the grid.
“But never write off Lewis Hamilton. We know he knows how to win races and championships and it’ll be very Schumacher-esque if he can go there and really drive the team to start winning a lot more races and be championship contenders.”
“We need it to give Verstappen and Red Bull more of a run for their money.
“When you’ve got static regulations, as we have for ’24, ’25, it tends to close the pack anyway. Law of diminishing returns, how much better can you make a great car? Cars that are not working so well improve, copy, learn or what have you.
“So it will be tight in the next two seasons. But then honestly, 2026, completely new cars again, throw it all up in the air, who knows.”
Ferrari is synonymous with Formula 1 glory, boasting the most championship titles in the sport's history. Yet, despite their rich past, a barren spell spanning 16 years haunts the legendary team.
Their last taste of championship victory came in 2008, leaving fans yearning for a return to the top step of the podium.
This lack of recent success has drawn comparisons to European football giant like Manchester United, renowned for their illustrious past but facing current challenges.
Brundle acknowledged the similarities, expressing hope that the upcoming 2024 season might ignite a shift in the competitive landscape.
His ideal scenario? A closer fight amongst teams before Lewis Hamilton's much-anticipated arrival at Ferrari in 2025.
However, reality seems to favor Max Verstappen, who enters the new season as the undeniable favorite, aiming for an incredible fourth consecutive World Championship title.
“I hope the pack closes up a lot this year,” added Brundle. “We need it to give Verstappen and Red Bull more of a run for their money.
“When you’ve got static regulations, as we have for ’24, ’25, it tends to close the pack anyway.
“Law of diminishing returns, how much better can you make a great car? Cars that are not working so well improve, copy, learn or what have you.
“So it will be tight in the next two seasons. But then honestly, 2026, completely new cars again, throw it all up in the air, who knows.”
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