Hamilton dealt Leclerc warning ahead of major Ferrari move

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has warned Lewis Hamilton that Charles Leclerc will not "hold back" against him next season at Ferrari.

Hamilton will partner the Monegasque driver at the Maranello-based team for at least the next two years, following the blockbuster deal he signed back in February. 

It will mark the first-time Hamilton has raced for an F1 team not based in the United Kingdom, an initial challenge for the seven-time world champion to navigate. 

However, a constant challenge will be the threat of Leclerc, who finished third in this year's championship. 

Leclerc enjoyed an excellent season which featured three dominant victories in Monaco, Monza and Austin, with Herbert backing him to take the fight to Hamilton. 

The 27-year-old has experience of displacing world champions as team-mates, having, ultimately, dominated against four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

This is a point raised by Herbert, who is expecting Leclerc to raise another level alongside Hamilton.

“Charles [Leclerc] is not going to hold back," Herbert told Plejmo.com. 

"When [Sebastian] Vettel went there as a four-time world champion, Charles came in and nicked the team off Sebastian. He is not going to be afraid of Lewis [Hamilton]. 

"He will be aware and respectful, and he knows he will be a threat. But he is going to make sure he will be very much on top of his game when hostilities commence. 

"Charles has come on in a long way this year. The challenge will raise him to the level that he and Ferrari needs.”