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Former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley warned Charles Leclerc towards turning into the second driver when Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari.
On February 1, it was introduced that Hamilton would depart Mercedes, regardless of having signed a brand new two-year take care of the group, and race for Ferrari from 2025.
The seven-time world champion has 103 wins and 104 poles to his identify and can associate Leclerc, regardless of a disappointing begin to the 2024 season.
Leclerc solely has 5 Grand Prix trophies to his identify, however has a long-standing relationship with the Scuderia having began out on their junior group earlier than rising by way of the ranks.
Priestley advised OLBG: “Charles Leclerc can’t afford to let Lewis Hamilton are available in and be the principle man at Ferrari.
“Leclerc within reason skilled now, he has a couple of years below his belt and isn’t a rookie.
“If a driver accepts they’re going to be the second driver of the group, you signal your personal dying warrant and lose efficiency from that.
“Leclerc wants to come back into the group subsequent 12 months, considering he’ll be higher than Hamilton.
“F1 is a sport wherein an enormous half is technical with that automotive, however an enormous half is the driving force’s confidence in his personal capability.”
Leclerc is third within the 2024 drivers championship with 98 factors, whereas Hamilton is 2 locations behind teammate George Russell in ninth with simply 27 factors.
Priestly added: “My expertise from driver pairings, notably new ones, is they are going to be better of pals to start with and have large respect for one another. However that may all change if Hamilton and Leclerc are competing for a title towards one another.
“If the Ferrari turns into the very best automotive, that’s when it turns into very difficult, and I’ve by no means seen a scenario like that the place the drivers don’t fall out and trigger issues inside the group.”
