The arrival of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025 is set to create one of the most electrifying intra-team rivalries in Formula 1 history.
With seven World Championships and 105 Grand Prix wins to his name, Hamilton is a proven legend of the sport.
However, former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has issued a stark warning to Charles Leclerc.
He should establish dominance early or risk being overshadowed.
Hamilton joins Ferrari at a critical juncture in his career, aiming to claim his long-awaited eighth title after a difficult final season at Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Leclerc has spent seven years with the Scuderia and remains deeply embedded in the team’s culture. According to Jordan, this existing bond allows Leclerc to maintain his status—if he acts quickly.
Leclerc has to move fast to stay Ferrari’s main man
Speaking on the Formula For Success podcast, Jordan emphasised Leclerc’s unique position within the team:
“Leclerc is there now seven years. He knows everybody. He knows all the people and what to say, the language. He’s the darling of Maranello.”
“However, he will be surprised. I think he had a certain way with him over Carlos Sainz.
“But, as far as I’m concerned, I think Lewis will hit the ground running… well, I think it will take him two or three races.
“I would urge Leclerc to get on his bike in the early stage because that’s when Leclerc is going to show certain amounts of dominance.”
However, the balance of power could shift as Hamilton settles in and wins over the passionate Ferrari fanbase. Jordan warned that the longer Leclerc waits to establish himself, the greater the risk of Hamilton taking centre stage.
“As the season unfolds, as the people show more and more and more love for [Lewis], particularly the Italian fraternity and the Tifosi, but also the country, because this is a national team – I really think Lewis wants to and will embrace the love that it projects.”
Leclerc, often regarded as a “champion-in-waiting,” must ensure that Hamilton does not arrive and assume a leadership role that diminishes his influence. Ferrari has been built around Leclerc for years, and former teammate Carlos Sainz acknowledged that his departure was inevitable.
“I understand it was never going to be Charles,” Sainz admitted on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “Charles has been the project of Ferrari ever since he’s been a junior driver. He’s been the centre of the project for many years.”
Track days just hit different
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 5, 2025pic.twitter.com/BsEqjxFHSc
Hamilton must overcome recent struggles
While Hamilton’s reputation precedes him, Jordan pointed out that he struggled at Mercedes in 2024, particularly against George Russell.
“At the end of the day, George Russell grabbed that car by the horns, and he made it do different things to what Lewis was,” Jordan said.
Hamilton never seemed fully comfortable in the W15, with Jordan highlighting how Russell’s superior confidence in the car led to better performances in both qualifying and races.
“Having said that, George absolutely demolished him in qualifying and, to some extent, in the races as well. So well done. George Russell is a big future.
“We’re desperately keen to see how he gets on this year.”
Hamilton himself admitted that he struggled with the car’s rear-end stability, an issue he repeatedly raised with Mercedes engineers.
“He made the point. I don’t know if you saw a very private recent interview with him where he had said to Toto [Wolff] and to Bono [race engineer Pete Bonnington] that there was something seriously wrong with the back of the car, that he wasn’t conveying confidence in the corner.
“He just didn’t feel that the car was giving him the confidence to push to the level that he needed to do to get pole positions and race wins.”
A defining season for Leclerc and Hamilton
As Ferrari gears up for the 2025 season, the battle between Leclerc and Hamilton could shape the team’s future. Will Leclerc use his familiarity with Ferrari to assert himself, or will Hamilton’s experience and presence win over the Scuderia?
With both drivers hungry for success, their dynamic could define the season and determine who Ferrari truly backs in their quest for championship glory.
Feature Image Credit: @scuderiaferrari | X
