Hamilton - Leclerc. A single direction to win in red.

Originally Published in: Gazzetta dello Sport

Originally Published on: Jan 9th 2025

Originally Written by: Paolo Filisetti

They are the duo of the year, the most anticipated duo of the new Formula 1 season. One, in Ferrari since 2019, dreams of winning his first World Championship after a 2024 of great growth. The other, just arrived in Maranello, will debut in red for the first time at 40 years old after already winning seven world titles. They are Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the drivers that the Prancing Horse will line up on the grid in the new season of F1. And while there are already questions about how their coexistence in the garage will be, the technical characteristics and driving preferences that go in the same direction will facilitate the adaptation of the new Ferrari duo.

ⓒ LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT

THE PRECEDENTS It was evident that the drivers' confidence in the behavior of their respective cars played a fundamental role. The certainty of being able to push to the maximum while exploiting the car according to one's driving style often made a bigger difference than the increase in aerodynamic load or efficiency gained from updates. It is not surprising that during the year, with the same car on the same track, the feedback from two teammates was often inconsistent, as in the case of Hamilton and Russell, but also Leclerc and Sainz, due to their different driving styles. This seemed to work better for one, put the other in crisis, and vice versa.

THE NEW TEAM Leclerc and Hamilton have a nearly overlapping driving style therefore assumes a non-secondary relevance in view of the start of the season. Both drivers bring a lot of speed into the corner, delaying the braking to then press hard on the brake pedal, setting up the corner with a very decisive steering movement. From that point on, they manage the rotation of the car in such a way as to correct any rear-end slide, "telegraphing" with the throttle at the center of the corner, ready to press down as soon as the single-seater aligns on exit. This prerogative requires a very precise front end when entering the corner, while the lightening of the rear end that induces oversteer is not a problem. The two drivers of the red car thus prefer an oversteering vehicle to manage in the central phase of the corner, but which allows for higher speed on entry. It is a dynamic behavior that current ground effect single-seaters have much less compared to the past, being tendentially understeering. But it is a characteristic that can be modified both at the setup level and in the aerodynamic concept itself, through the distribution of load, and in the dynamic response of the suspensions.

TEAMWORK For Ferrari, it will therefore be very advantageous to have two drivers who adopt a similar driving style. This should lead to a quicker definition of the car's setup, and during weekends with "Sprint races," this aspect will become even more relevant, having less time available to assess the setups. The decision on the development packages will also benefit from a uniform response, and the team will be able to evaluate their effectiveness without uncertainties. Another Ferrari driver preferred a fast entry into the corner with a delayed braking phase and aimed for a trajectory that reduced the central phase of the turn, in order to align the single-seater as early as possible on exit. That driver is Michael Schumacher, and his style is reminiscent of Hamilton and Leclerc. A stroke of good omen for the newborn red duo, who are already aiming in the same direction, with a single goal: to win.

[Translation proof reading by @F1REAKS / X]