"I didn't ask" - Charles Leclerc on whether he was aware of Lewis Hamilton's negotiations with Ferrari

Charles Leclerc recently touched upon Lewis Hamilton's upcoming switch to Ferrari from Mercedes. In his recent interview, the Monegasque driver stated that he was not bothered about Hamilton's arrival as it was not a part of his job role.

Hamilton's switch from Mercedes to Ferrari is a massive move in itself. Besides the mammoth $446 million deal, the move will also see the most successful F1 driver of the sport joining the most successful F1 team.

With this, he is also set to part ways with Mercedes after a 12-year-long union. Hamilton claimed six out of his seven F1 titles, driving for the Silver Arrows.

"Lewis' arrival has been in the air for some time, but until there is an official confirmation you can't be sure," Leclerc told Motorsport.com (translated from Italian). "I knew there was interest from both sides, and in these cases it is very likely that an agreement will be reached. I didn't ask to know more, it's not part of my role, but I must say that everyone has always been very open and sincere with me."

"Lewis' announcement at Ferrari was also reassuring, because taking a driver like him is obviously a strong signal. I saw it as a positive choice, starting with the fact that Lewis could facilitate the arrival of very talented people in the team," Leclerc added.

Hamilton's decision to make the switch startled multiple team bosses and experts alike, while fans were left shocked. Despite signing a two-year deal with the Silver Arrows as late as 2023, the British driver changed his mind within half a year.

Even though rumors about a possible move to Maranello were on throughout 2023, it finally came true in February this year. Once the official announcement was made, it sent ripples across the F1 grid.

---

Charles Leclerc looking forward to competing with Lewis Hamilton

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Source: Getty Images.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will lock horns at Ferrari next season, and the former is already looking forward to it. The Monegasque driver is seemingly excited about the duel, saying (via the aforementioned source):

"It's interesting because I'll be able to learn from one of the best drivers in the entire history of F1, and it's very motivating because I'm intrigued by the comparison with Lewis with the same car."

The seven-time world champion will join the Prancing Horse on a multi-year deal, starting in 2025. He will replace Williams-bound Carlos Sainz and race alongside the Monegasque star.

Paddock chatters suggest that Lewis Hamilton is likely to pursue the incomplete quest for an eighth world championship. It will be interesting to see if he manages to claim the ultimate prize during his time at Ferrari and provide the Prancing Horse a much-needed title.