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“You’ve got a long, long future ahead of you”: When Lewis Hamilton consoled a young Charles Leclerc after the latter’s heartbreak at the 2019 Bahrain GP

Somin Bhattacharjee
Published

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Charles Leclerc lost out on winning the 2019 Bahrain GP due to engine problems, and it was race winner Lewis Hamilton who consoled him. 

The 2019 Bahrain GP was Leclerc’s second race with Ferrari. He made his F1 debut the previous year with Sauber, and impressed everyone in the paddock with his strong performances.

The Monegasque was always tipped to be Ferrari’s next World Champion, and people had high hopes from him going into the 2019 season.

At his first race in Australia, he finished P5. In Bahrain however, he showed everyone what he was all about, earning his first pole position in Formula 1.

In the race, he performed spectacularly, but an engine problem towards the end of the race, took the win away from him. He did finish P3, but on a weekend where he was faster than anyone else, it didn’t  matter much. It was going to be Leclerc’s first race win in F1, and he was visibly distraught after the race.

In the cool down room after the race, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (who ended up winning the race), took time out to console to young Ferrari driver.

Also read: Charles Leclerc optimistic of a turn in Ferrari’s fortune after astounding Bahrain GP win

Lewis Hamilton told Charles Leclerc that he had a bright future ahead of him

After the race, Hamilton praised Leclerc for driving flawlessly that weekend. He agreed to what the Brit said, adding that he did so ‘until the problem’.

“Hey man, you got a long long future ahead of you,” Hamilton replied. A quiet Charles Leclerc responded with an, “I hope so.”

The Mercedes driver is one of the greatest in F1 history. He’s been through several ups and downs in his F1 career, including the moment where he lost out on the World Championship in heartbreaking fashion, in his rookie year.

He used his experience as an example to tell Leclerc that, “I know it sucks at the moment. But you’ve got a long long way to go.”

2019 turned out to be a very good year for Leclerc as he went on to win not one, but two races (Spa and Monza). The following two years were quiet for him and the entire Ferrari outfit.

In 2022 however, Ferrari are now making major strides in their quest to return to the top of F1. Leclerc’s redemption in Bahrain came in the form of a victory in the season opener earlier this month.

Also read: F1 is set to talk with Netflix and drivers to resolve ‘fake drama’ issue; can axe the show if it doesn’t work

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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