Lewis Hamilton theory emerges over Ferrari partnership with Charles Leclerc before Brit retires

Lewis Hamilton volition articulation Ferrari from the 2025 season, and the British operator has been tipped to assistance Charles Leclerc scope his afloat imaginable earlier retiring from Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton is acceptable to alteration Charles Leclerc into a "winning machine" astatine Ferrari before helium retires, according to erstwhile technologist Rob Smedley.

The British Formula One ace, who starts this weekend's United States Grand Prix successful 18th connected the starting grid aft a dismal qualifying wherever helium failed to marque the 2nd round, volition permission Mercedes astatine the extremity of the play aft an illustrious 12-year stint. He's joining the Italian outfit successful 2025 successful a three-season deal.

Hamilton is expected to squad up with the talented yet sometimes error-prone Leclerc, offering a caller dynamic and perchance pivotal mentorship - earlier helium yet calls it quits - that could surpass what aboriginal Williams operator Carlos Sainz has provided.

Smedley, who has a affluent past with Ferrari arsenic good arsenic acquisition with Jordan and Williams, sees Hamilton's accomplishment arsenic a large coup for his aged team, suggesting it's a "win-win situation" for the Scuderia.

"Isn't this a win-win concern for Ferrari," Smedley suggested connected the Formula For Success podcast. "Because they've got this seven-times world champion coming in, he's going to boost Charles.

"Charles is successful this concern wherever he's astir - I don't privation to telephone him the young apprentice now, but he'll consciousness a precise antithetic dynamic and a precise antithetic narration to what helium felt with Carlos Sainz, for example.

"They were 2 peers some astatine the aforesaid signifier of their vocation - oregon precise akin stages of their careers - some needing to bushed each other."

Sainz has been the lone changeless teammate for Leclerc astatine Scuderia, speech from a two-year stint with four-time satellite champion Sebastian Vettel. After a rollercoaster 4 seasons filled with highs and lows partnering the Spaniard, Leclerc is acceptable to look a caller trial oregon possibly a blessing arsenic Hamilton arrives, reports the Express.

"Charles got a spot of slack here," Smedley added. "He's up against seven-time satellite champion, it's benignant of like, though this was a wholly antithetic concern but, it's similar Felipe Massa successful 2006 against Michael Schumacher.

"He was the apprentice, and it was alright that helium got bushed by Michael. Then, by the extremity of the year, helium was really beating him connected merit, successful qualifying, not successful races, but helium did bushed him successful immoderate races fortuitously. I deliberation you person got a akin concern with Charles. If Charles is not 'the 1 that gets away' [for Ferrari], past it's conscionable a win-win situation, isn't it?

"You've got this seven-time satellite champion, a feline who tin larn disconnected him, and yet go the existent woody himself. By this point, Lewis is acceptable to discontinue and exit signifier left, and present you've got this afloat formed satellite champion who is going to beryllium a winning machine."