'Typical Ferrari driver' backed for 'win-or-bust' F1 title glory

Damon Hill believes it is "win or bust" for Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, but maintains championships in F1 can be won that way.

The 1996 drivers' champion feels the 26-year-old is a "typical Ferrari driver", alluding to the high expectations placed on him and the all-or-nothing attitude to racing in F1.

Leclerc joined Ferrari after just one season, eventually effectively replacing team-mate Sebastian Vettel as the Scuderia's standard bearer.

Whilst he has yet to closely fight for a championship with the Italian team, he is seen as a prodigal son for the Maranello-based squad and its adoring fans.

However, in 2025, the Monegasque will be joined by seven-time F1 drivers' champion Lewis Hamilton, further intensifying the expectations upon him.

Despite the growing anticipation, Hill argues championship success is within reach for Leclerc - as it is, too, for the man currently alongside his future team-mate at Mercedes.

“I would not discount George Russell," the 64-year-old told the F1 Explains podcast. "I think George is definitely a contender.

"And Charles Leclerc is a typical Ferrari driver in many ways. It's win or bust with Charles, it seems to me, but you can win a championship like that.”

Hunter or hunted?

Turning attention to the current F1 drivers' championship fight between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, which the Dutchman leads by 52-points with six rounds to go, Hill drew upon the experience of his title-winning campaign.

The Briton led from the opening round in Australia until the final race in Japan that year and when asked if would prefer to be in Verstappen or Norris' shoes, the former Brabham, Williams, Arrows and Jordan driver opted to be the hunted rather than the hunter.

“I think that it's better to have the advantage and protect it,” he replied. “You've got nothing to lose if you're chasing, but at the same time you're behind. So it's always a better position to be in, to have those points.

“In motorsport, there’s tension. You can't avoid it. So it's the ability to cope with tension, to cope with pressure, but I think I'd rather have the lead than be trying to get it.

“Max has got it all to lose. It was a similar thing in ‘96 for me because the gap closed up towards the end of the season, and that can be an anxious time.

“It's much harder. At one point you think ‘we're winning, we're going to win’. And of course, that is the golden rule in all sports – to not get ahead of yourself.

“It's actually keeping your mind in the present and always keeping on the same competitive urge until the flag drops or you get to the end of the season.”