Charles Leclerc believes Lewis Hamilton’s impending move to Ferrari can only be seen as “good news” for him and the team.

In February, the Scuderia announced the bombshell signing of the seven-time world champion just a week after Leclerc had agreed a contract extension.

Hamilton, who signed a two-year contract worth approximately $65m-a-season, will leave Mercedes after 12 seasons to replace Carlos Sainz.

And Leclerc is relishing the prospect of measuring himself against the Briton week in, week out.

“When you have a seven-time world champion joining the team, it’s always good news,” he told Autosport.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 02: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes speaks with Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 02, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images )Getty Images

“First, because it’s super interesting and super motivating for me. Super interesting because I can learn from one of the best-ever Formula 1 drivers.

“And second, super motivating because I’m super motivated to show what I’m capable of doing against Lewis in the same car.”

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari came just a year after he denied talks with the Italian constructor over signing a $52m deal and agreed a multi-year deal with Mercedes worth $130m over 2024 and 2025.

Leclerc not surprised by Hamilton’s move

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – OCTOBER 29: Second placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes and Third placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari celebrate on the podium after the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Getty Images

But the agreement contained an ‘escape clause’, which Ferrari triggered to complete one of the most surprising signings in the history of the sport.

Leclerc, however, revealed he was informed the move could happen.

“I knew that it was a possibility and that it was likely because both sides wanted to make it happen,” he said.

“When you take a driver like Lewis Hamilton within the team, it obviously is a strong sign.”

The task for Hamilton and Leclerc now is to resurrect a team that has steadily lost its way.

Ferrari’s last drivers’ championship came in 2008 and since joining the team in 2019, Leclerc has finished in the top-three of the drivers’ standings just once.

The Monegasque’s only win this season came in his home Grand Prix in May and he remains 100 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.

Sainz, who won the Australian Grand Prix in March, is 15 points further adrift of his teammate.

By racing alongside Hamilton, Leclerc will no longer have to shoulder all the expectations of delivering success to a team that’s been starved of glory of late.

At the same time, the Scuderia retains an aura no other team can match in Formula 1.

Its 16 constructors’ titles remain a record by a considerable distance.

To put the figure into context, Mercedes and Red Bull, the two dominant forces in the sport over the past two decades, have 14 constructors’ titles between them.

Hamilton, meanwhile, has benefitted from Mercedes’ return of form over the past three months.

Winless in the past two seasons, the 39-year-old went into the summer break after winning at Silverstone and at Spa-Francorchamps – albeit the latter only after his Mercedes teammate George Russell was disqualified.

Red Bull won 38 out of 44 races in the calendar over the last two years, but the Milton Keynes-based team’s dominance has been curtailed by McLaren and Mercedes’ resurgence.

Ferrari has so far failed to match its two rivals for pace, but Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello this winter should galvanize the team.

Can Hamilton emulate Michael Schumacher?

SAKHIR, BAHRAIN – APRIL 4: Michael Schumacher of Germany and Ferrari crosses the line to win the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at the Bahrain Racing Circuit on April 4, 2004 in Sakhir, Bahrain (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)Getty Images

And joining Ferrari will give Hamilton the chance to finally surpass Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles.

The German won five consecutive titles with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004 and remains one of the Scuderia’s greatest heroes.

Hamilton already leads the all-time rankings for most Formula 1 wins and pole positions and winning a record eighth world title with Ferrari would be the fairytale ending to an incredible career.

The Briton has spoken of his admiration for Schumacher, whom he replaced at Mercedes in 2013 after the German retired for a second and final time.

Four years ago, Hamilton was left speechless after being presented with Schumacher’s helmet after equalling the German’s then-record of 91 Formula One wins.

‘Seeing his dominance for so long I didn’t think I’d be anywhere near Michael in terms of records so it’s an incredible honour. It’s going to take time to get used to it,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘I remember sitting with my brother and dad watching races every Sunday, watching Michael storm ahead.

‘We would watch the first half and then at the end me and my brother would race a computer game upstairs and I would be Michael. I was always Michael he was phenomenal.’

It took the German four years to restore Ferrari to the top of the drivers’ standings, ending a 21-year wait for title. By the time Hamilton will race in red for the first time, Ferrari will have waited 16 years.

The parallels could not be more striking.