Leclerc echoes Hamilton’s comments about Newey as he says star designer ‘can make the difference’

Charles Leclerc has backed up the views of future Ferrari team mate Lewis Hamilton regarding Adrian Newey’s next move, saying it would be “amazing” if the acclaimed F1 designer opted to join the Scuderia.

Newey has dominated the headlines in the build-up to the Miami Grand Prix following the announcement that he is to leave Red Bull in the first quarter of 2025, having played a key role in the team’s six constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles to date.

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Earlier on Thursday, Hamilton stated that it would be a “privilege” to work with Newey going forward, as the seven-time world champion prepares to leave current squad Mercedes and team up with Leclerc next season.

Asked for his own take on the situation, and how pleased he would be to see Newey land at Ferrari, Leclerc replied: “I would obviously be very happy. I think Adrian is one of those guys in the paddock that you hope to be working with one day in your career.

“We have an incredible team in Ferrari at the moment. In the last seven to eight months, we are the team that have progressed the most. However, adding Adrian to a team like this would be amazing.”

As to how he reacted when the news dropped, and whether he feels Red Bull will be weaker as a result, he added: “I was surprised. I did not expect it. It was interesting news and one of those that makes a lot of noise once it’s out, as I had it everywhere on my social media.

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“Will it weaken Red Bull? Obviously [at] every team there are lots of people involved, but some figures of a team make more difference than others. I think Adrian is definitely one of them as he has shown it… every time he’s been in a team, they’ve been very, very successful

“It’s difficult for me to comment because I don’t know how exactly he works within the team, but obviously Adrian being on the market, of the engineers, he’s definitely someone to watch, and someone that everybody in the paddock will want in their team.”

Leclerc was also asked if he believes Ferrari have more chance of convincing Newey to head to Maranello under the leadership of Frederic Vasseur, who arrived in the Team Principal role ahead of the 2023 season and is making his mark on operations.

“For sure,” he stated. “I think we’ve been in a very good moment for the team – we are in a good spiral. Fred has always shared with me what was his medium- to long-term vision of the team. I have shared with him what I thought also was the right thing.

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“It’s going really, really well, I’m really happy with how it goes. I think we are in a good place to attract the best people in the world. However, I have said it already, but we are a really, really good team already. In the last seven to eight months we have done incredible progress.

“But whatever and whoever can come to make it even stronger is super important, and Adrian is one of those guys that can make a difference.”