Crucial year for Leclerc as Hamilton arrives - Allievi

Renowned Italian Formula 1 journalist Pino Allievi believes Charles Leclerc's reputation will be on the line in 2025 as he faces off against seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.

Leclerc, still only 27, enters his eighth season in F1 with a reputation as one of the sport's top drivers. However, with no championship to his name, some have begun to question whether he will ever take the final step to becoming a title winner.

Now, with Hamilton arriving at Ferrari at age 40, Allievi believes this season will be crucial for Leclerc's standing within the team and the sport.

"The fact that someone said that Hamilton's arrival is good for Leclerc because it will allow him to grow is something that Charles probably didn't like," he wrote in his latest column for Autosprint.

"While Hamilton has already won so much, Leclerc has to beat his new teammate to defend his reputation at Ferrari and in Formula 1.

"A defeat would make Leclerc eternally second."

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has long been regarded as a strong ally of Leclerc, but his relationship with Hamilton also dates back to his junior racing days.

"Charles has been described, probably a little prematurely, as 'il predestinato' – the predestined champion," Allievi continued.

"But someone at Ferrari has already described Hamilton as 'the Messiah', which suggests to me that the team may already have sided with him.

"That puts Charles in a tricky position," he concluded.