Charles Le🅠clerc has been named as the fastest F1 driver over a single lap by Karun Chandhok.

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

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

And embracing Leclerc’s speed is testament to Hamilton’📖s motivation to k👍eep fighting at the front of F1, Sky Sports experts believe.

“For me, it’s a sign that he still has fire in his belly,” Karun Chandhok said on the Sky ꦑF🐈1 show.

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

“I🀅t’s a tough mental load to take, especially when you’re at the sharp end, the pinnacle. The pressure he’s under…

“To st𓆏ill have that dedication? For him to still havꩲe that fire to take on 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 cha♋llenge 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 confirmed.

Leclerc’s renewal was prioritised above Carlos Sainz - who was the only non-Red Bull drive♉r to win a grand prix 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 Brady and Kelly Slater ♚who carried on their careers into their 40s.

“Lewis sees beyond normal limits. He always has done. He will be motiva𒅌ted.

꧃“He has organised his life so that he can give his bes꧅t. 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 competiti⭕ve.”

Martin Brundle added: “You lose the n🤡eed, you don’t lose the speed.

“There are two exceptions - Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton - that w🔴e see at the moment.

“Somehow 🐎they find this motivation and energy to keeꦰp driving forwards.”