Hamilton Dominates First Ferrari Showdown as Leclerc Faces Crushing Defeat

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

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

Hamilton and Leclerc made their official debut as Ferrari teammates in January, donning the team’s iconic red race suits and unveiling their new helmet designs. Hamilton chose a classic yellow color 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 favorite helmet design, Hamilton emerged as the clear winner. A staggering 79% of respondents favored Hamilton’s yellow helmet, compared to just 21% for Leclerc’s, marking a symbolic early victory for the Briton.

Though the poll was a lighthearted contest, it underscores the excitement surrounding Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. The British driver’s popularity remains immense, and his presence at Maranello has reignited hopes of Ferrari returning to championship-winning form.

Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari, however, hasn’t been without its challenges. During a recent test session in Barcelona, he suffered a crash—continuing a peculiar trend in his career. Remarkably, Hamilton has crashed in testing with every new team he has joined, including McLaren and Mercedes, before going on to win a world title the following year.

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