Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari F1: “It’s Not Just About Drivers and Cars Anymore”

This is a big year for Scuderia Ferrari — and for Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Ferrari's new dynamic duo of F1 racing. The 2025 F1 season, which started March 16 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, has Italy’s most legendary racing team looking for victories and Hamilton sitting where he’s wanted to sit since childhood: behind the wheel of an F1 Ferrari.

Hamilton: "Lewis in Red Still Gives Me the Chills."

In fact, the 40-year-old racing superstar has a record eighth F1 driver title in his sights — an achievement that would confirm his status as the greatest F1 driver of all time even as he fulfills his lifelong dream of driving for Ferrari. As a kid playing video games, Hamilton drove Michael Schumacher’s car; now he’s driving the real thing on a real track — and poised to break Schumacher’s record.

Hamilton's announcement one year ago of his 2025 move to Ferrari set the F1 world ablaze and thrilled the Ferrari faithful (aka tifosi), whose devotion to the legendary racing team in iconic red overalls is matched by their joy at having Hamilton to lead the charge. In the words of one diehard fan: "Lewis in red still gives me the chills."

Leclerc: “No One Needs to Talk About His Talent and His Speed”

Hamilton's partner in speed, Charles Leclerc, is also no slouch. The 27-year-old Monégasque driver, who joined team Ferrari at 21, was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2022 with Ferrari and has won eight Grands Prix across eight seasons. As former Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz put it: “I think no one needs to talk about his talent and his speed; everyone knows that.”

Hamilton, too, has been unstinting in his praise of new teammate Leclerc, applauding his work ethic as well as his performance on the track and adding: "So he is very much 'Mr. Ferrari' and it’s been really cool to work alongside him."

Leveraging Software and Data to Elevate Racing

But Hamilton and Leclerc have more in common than massive talent, a prodigious work ethic, and an obsession with putting Ferrari in the winner's circle. Both drivers are also known for their attention to detail and their willingness to dive deep into the weeds with engineers and crews. As Hamilton has pointed out, he learned during his McLaren years that drivers and engineers need to work together to create a better car — and Hamilton and Leclerc share a devotion to software and data as a way to elevate their performance.

With all that in mind, we sat down with Hamilton and Leclerc — two of the best drivers F1 has to offer — to go beyond car and driver, engineering and pit crew, and find out how software and the tech ecosystem shape racing performance in today’s Formula One.

“Trust in the Technology Lets Us Focus on Driving”

As to the impact of software applications on their performance — on and off the track — Hamilton sees a big upside there. “Ultimately it comes down to natural ability,” he concedes. “But today the technology is so advanced, software applications are highly relevant to develop and maintain high standards of quality.”

“And it’s not just during the race,” adds Leclerc. “Application development and software security are essential across the entire operation — at an enterprise level, for car development, for race strategy. And the trust in the technology, obviously, is what allows us to focus purely on driving.”

“Motor Sports Isn’t Just About Drivers and Cars Anymore”

While they acknowledge that the importance of some success factors — from split-second reflexes to precision engineering — has remained constant, others have changed radically. Once upon a time, victory came down to the driver and the car; today, there’s a whole tech ecosystem supporting car, driver and crew. You don’t see it as the car circles the track, Leclerc points out, “but there’s so much technology in the background, and it’s the backbone of everything we do — from simulating races in the factory and preparing for the races to real-time collaboration on track days. And yeah, technology definitely pushes us to be smarter and faster.”

Hamilton is quick to second that observation.

“You wouldn’t believe how much work goes on in the background, building up to a Grand Prix and during a Grand Prix: the amount of software, the different programs you use to analyze, basically, the heartbeat of the car. Motor sports isn’t just about drivers and cars anymore. It’s about the high-tech ecosystem that we’re operating in. Nowadays, it’s really a convergence — not only the human side, but also the technology.”

“In Formula One, Every Millisecond Counts”

That convergence invites a question: Where is all this headed? How will teams develop F1 cars in the future — and what will that technology look like?

“It’s progressing so quickly,” Leclerc replies. “Year after year, we see development improvements, we get faster at making decisions — and as we all know, in Formula One, every millisecond counts. Real-time data and software allow us to adapt instantly, whether it’s making the right call on tire strategy or adjusting how I approach a corner on the driving side. Without the data, you’re basically racing blind.”

Hamilton concurs. “Ultimately the car feels like an extension of ourselves when we’re driving — but it’s the data and the software that keep us connected to the insights of the team. And so, as Charles was mentioning about tire wear and engine performance, that real-time information is essential to allow us to stay competitive, to keep us at the competitive edge.”

“The Car Is Feeding Back Information Constantly”

No two races are alike, even on the same circuit — and this technological support system has become indispensable in dealing with the unexpected. “I’ve been racing a long time in Formula One,” says Hamilton — and while technology has always been important, “the emphasis gets greater and greater each year. It’s not solely down to the driver’s ability or the mechanics working with the raw machine. Today it’s so much more advanced. It’s the fusion of cutting-edge technology, the mechanics, the driver’s input.”

“The biggest challenge is the level of data we now rely on: fully understanding it, optimizing it,” Hamilton continues. “Every single millisecond counts, and the car is feeding back information constantly. So understanding that, and interpreting it in the right way, and making changes — both at the factory and at the track — is essential.”

“In Our Sport, It’s All About Comparing”

Of course, every ecosystem has gaps for evolution to fill. What’s missing from the F1 software landscape? What’s the dream application for an F1 driver?

“Maybe software which can simulate the perfect lap within the limits of our cars,” suggests Leclerc. “Because in our sport, it’s all about comparing: as soon as I get out of the car, I’ll look at Lewis’s data and try to compare what’s possible, where he’s faster, what I can do better… If tomorrow we have the perfect data on exactly what is the limit of the car, that would be super interesting.”

“Data Is So Incredibly Important”

Looking back, software has played a role for both drivers since the very beginning — from childhood video games to their early days in karting. “You used to have this little device on the steering wheel that told you the RPM and the temperature of the engine,” Hamilton recounts, “and we also had a data download. We had this huge chunky laptop back then. It was from very early on — like, I was ten. And that was the first time I saw data.” He turns to Leclerc and laughs. “You weren’t born yet.”

“I remember when I first tested in a single-seater, and the data was a lot more advanced,” Leclerc replies. “And that was incredible. I could finally—” He pauses, then goes on: “In your karting days you’re just relying on your feelings, which is a good way to learn. But then to verify what you’re changing, in the smallest details — data is so incredibly important.”