Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 28: Former Formula 1 driver and Ferrari ambassador Marc Gene has lauded his team's 2025 driver line-up as the strongest in the sport, emphasizing the positive dynamic between incoming seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and current driver Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton's high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari during the off-season sees him partner with the long-time Ferrari protégé Leclerc, creating a formidable all-star duo for the Scuderia.
While the initial results for Hamilton and Ferrari have been varied in the early part of the season, Gene has observed significant positive developments behind the scenes.
“It’s the best (on the grid) I don’t think you can have a better line-up," Gene stated on the Beyond the Grid podcast.
"Charles is at a very good point in his career – he’s matured so much. Being the teammate of Carlos, who’s also very diligent, technically very good, very organised, worked so hard… being the teammate of Seb… Charles has been very lucky to have two such good teammates. Therefore, now even having Lewis as a teammate, they work very well. They are not political. I can really tell that they work very well [together], and they are pushing each other," he explained.
Carlos Sainz, who made way for Hamilton at Ferrari and is now racing for Williams, was also a topic of discussion. Gene acknowledged the emotional aspect of Sainz, a fellow Spaniard with whom he has a strong relationship, having to leave Ferrari after four increasingly competitive seasons.
“Of course, I was sorry for Carlos, because I’m Spanish and I have a very good relationship with him,” Gene said. “But when you have the opportunity to have Lewis in the team, and it was a love affair, a mutual love affair, you understand the decision that Ferrari took," he added.
After the first five rounds of the season, Ferrari currently holds fourth position in the Teams’ Championship with 78 points, trailing leaders McLaren by 110 points. In the Drivers’ Standings, Leclerc is fifth with 47 points, while Hamilton sits in seventh with 31 points.