Will Hamilton own Leclerc at Ferrari and win an eighth F1 title?

For now, it's all smiles and groovy soundbites as the incredible Hamilton-Ferrari honeymoon is in full flight ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The 40-year-old will make his 357th start in Formula 1, his first for Ferrari, and a new era for Maranello. Seeking an eighth F1 title too. But first, he has to bat Leclerc.

The last of F1's Old Guard versus one of the sport's Top Guns. The scene is set: Hamilton has more pole position starts [104] than any other, versus Leclerc who is arguably the fastest guy on the planet (when the stars align) when he pops a fast lap.

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes the intra-team battle at Ferrari will push both drivers to new heights: "I think it goes both ways. If you have a quick driver behind you, it actually gives you a slap in the face because you know that your teammate is going to be very much on top of his game."

Herbert added: "A teammate is going to be pushing you. And when he pushes you, that makes you push that little bit more. Sometimes that actually benefits the team because they will be getting the best out of each other. I think it's a positive thing having Charles on board. There’s going to be some internal politics."

Referencing Leclerc's former Ferrari teammate F1 legend Sebastian Vettel, Herbert also noted Leclerc's history of asserting himself within Ferrari: "We’ve always got to remember when Charles came into Ferrari with Sebastian Vettel, he took the team away from Sebastian. Lewis is going to be aware of that. At the end of the day, motivation is the most powerful thing."

Looking back on Hamilton’s first month at Ferrari, Herbert was impressed by the smooth transition: "He settled in very quickly. When you're at the level that Lewis has been for many years, it doesn't take long to settle in. That's what he's showing at the present time."

Herbert also believes the Ferrari SF-25 could play to Hamilton’s strengths, particularly compared to the Mercedes he drove in recent seasons. He explained, "The car itself looks pretty drivable. I think it looks more like what Lewis has always been after. He always likes a very sharp front end.

"That was something that they struggled with—a bit of understeer with the Mercedes. It looks as if the Ferrari has a little bit more of a sharper front end, which is only going to benefit Lewis in his campaign to get that eighth title. And I think it's very, very possible for that to happen," ventured Herbert.

With the Ferrari SF-25 showing promise in pre-season testing, all eyes will be on how Hamilton and Leclerc measure up against each other when the 2025 Formula 1 season begins in Melbourne.