Hamilton handed bleak prediction: 'That moment inevitably comes for everyone'

Costa was one of the main architects behind Ferrari’s enormous success during the early 2000s in the Michael Schumacher era, before later playing a crucial role in Mercedes’ dominance throughout the hybrid era from 2014 to 2021, helping design some of the most dominant Formula 1 cars in history.

Hamilton came agonisingly close to securing his eighth world title in the infamous 2021 Abu Dhabi finale. With just a few laps remaining, the championship appeared firmly in his hands before Nicholas Latifi’s crash and the subsequent Safety Car period completely changed the outcome, leading to the dramatic finish everyone still remembers today, with Max Verstappen ultimately emerging victorious.

Speaking on the Terruzzi Racconta podcast, Costa admitted that, from an emotional standpoint, he would love to see Hamilton finally achieve his dream of winning an eighth world title with Ferrari. At the same time, however, the former Ferrari and Mercedes engineer pointed out that every driver eventually reaches a stage in their career where performance naturally begins to decline, especially at Hamilton’s age.

Leclerc admitted that Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has given him a valuable opportunity to closely observe one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history from the inside. The Monegasque explained that he has paid particular attention to every aspect of Hamilton’s preparation methods, analysing everything from his work away from the cockpit to the routines he follows before getting in the car.

According to Leclerc, the differences in driving style between the two tend to vary depending on the circuit and even specific corners, with both drivers possessing their own individual strengths. However, he believes the real key behind Hamilton’s extraordinary success over the years lies primarily in his mentality, approach and overall way of working rather than outright driving technique alone.