Charle😼s Leclerc has been named as the fastest F1 driver over a single lap by Karun Chandhok.

The Ferrari driver claimed five pole positions last season although he couldn’t repeat his three grands prix victories ⛎from 2022 due to🎉 Red Bull’s dominance.

Leclerc will become t𝓰he teammate of Lewis Hamilton when the Mercedes star switches to Ferrari next year.

And embrac🦩ing Leclerc’s speed is testament to Hamilton’s motivation to keep fighting at the front of F1, Sky Spor🃏ts experts believe.

“For me, it’s a sign that he still has🔯 fir🔯e in his belly,” Karun Chandhok said on the Sky F1 show.

“He’s about to start his 18th season in Formula 1. That’s 18 years where he is spending 300 days living out of a suitcase,💫 at events, testing…

“It’s a tough mental load to take, especially when you’re at the sha🤡rp end, the pinnacle. The pressure he’s under…

“To still havꦇe that dedication? For him to still have that fire to take o𝕴n a young charger like Leclerc?

“I’ve said before and people have disagreed with me, but I think Leclerc𝄹 is the fastest driver over one lap in F1.

“To ♍take that challenge on, at this age, is very impressive.”

Leclerc was tied down by Ferrari to a new big-money and multi-year contract before Hamilton’s bombshell switch was conꦍfirmed.

Leclerc’s renewal was prioritised above Carlos Sainz - who was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a grand p🅠rix last year - and who was ultimately axed in favour of Hamilton.

Damon Hill said about Hamilton arriving at Ferrari when he will be 40 years old: “Lewis studied other athletes. Tom B𒁃rady and Kelly Slater who carried on their careers i💫nto their 40s.

“Lewis sees beyond n🐈ormal limits. He always♚ has done. He will be motivated.

“He hasꦓ organised his life so that he can give his best. Not putting himself under stress by doing marketing stuff. He does what he wants. Then he turns up and races.

“I ﷽think he’s got quite a few years left of being competitive.”

Martin Brundle added: “You lose the need, you don’t lose🐲 the speed.

“There are two exceptions - Fernand⛦o A🦂lonso and Lewis Hamilton - that we see at the moment.

“Somehow they find this motivation and energy to keep driving for🧸wards.”