Lewis Hamilton made an emphatic statement at Ferrari, claiming a commanding victory over Charles Leclerc in their first unofficial showdown as teammates. The seven-time world champion, who has joined the Maranello-based team for the 2025 season, won a fan poll by a landslide margin, dealing an early psychological blow to Leclerc before their on-track battles even began.

The highly anticipated partnership between Hamilton and Leclerc has been one of the biggest talking points heading into the new Formula 1 season. With both drivers known for their exceptional talent and racing acumen, fans are eager to see if Ferrari can provide them with a car capable of challenging for the title.

Hamilton and Leclerc made their official debut as teammates at Ferrari in January, donning the team’s iconic red racing suits and unveiling their new helmet designs. Hamilton chose a classic yellow colour scheme, reminiscent of his early days at McLaren and Mercedes, while Leclerc opted for a red and white design inspired by the Monaco flag.

However, in a GPFans poll asking fans to vote for their favourite helmet design, Hamilton came out on top. A staggering 79% of respondents preferred Hamilton’s yellow helmet, compared to just 21% for Leclerc’s, marking an early symbolic victory for the Briton.

Although the poll was a light contest, it underlines the excitement surrounding Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. The British driver’s popularity remains immense and his presence at Maranello has revived hopes of Ferrari returning to their world championship form.

Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has not been without its challenges, however. During a recent test session in Barcelona, ​​he crashed, confirming a pattern in his career. Remarkably, Hamilton crashed during testing with every new team he joined, including McLaren and Mercedes, before winning a world title the following year.

The duo will return to the track for the 2026 Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona on 4-5 February, before taking the wheel of the 2025 Ferrari in Bahrain for pre-season testing from 26-28 February. With Hamilton’s symbolic early victory and the weight of expectation on both drivers, the stage is set for an electrifying season at Ferrari.