Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton recently competed in a high-spirited speed challenge featured on Ferrari’s official Instagram page, showcasing their quick reactions and knowledge. The challenge took place in early July 2025 as part of Ferrari’s efforts to engage fans with off-track content, blending entertainment with technical insight.
Behind the Scenes of the Ferrari Speed Challenge
Amidst the digitally driven world of Formula 1, teams increasingly use social media to connect with fans during breaks between races. Ferrari capitalized on this trend by hosting a trivia challenge involving Leclerc and Hamilton, where each driver had to rapidly buzz in with answers. The contest included questions both about general Ferrari trivia and the team’s technical partner, IBM.
In the challenge, Lewis Hamilton began strong by correctly estimating the global number of Ferrari fans at 396 million, albeit joking that the figure might be even higher.
“I think there are more than that.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Scuderia Ferrari driver
Charles Leclerc’s quick recall was demonstrated when asked about the musical instrument he plays. Hamilton guessed bagpipes, which Leclerc confirmed, causing both to share a laugh over the surprising question.
The remaining questions alternated between Ferrari race statistics and IBM-related topics. At one point, Hamilton successfully named the total number of Ferrari’s historical race victories. The final question saw both drivers buzzing in simultaneously, resulting in a tie.
“We never like to finish on a tie.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Scuderia Ferrari driver
The trivia challenge underscored Ferrari’s ongoing partnership with IBM, a collaboration renewed in late 2024. This alliance was highlighted further with the launch of a revamped Ferrari mobile app in May 2025, incorporating artificial intelligence to improve fan interaction and user experience.
The 2025 British Grand Prix: Testing the Limits of the SF25
Shortly after the challenge, both drivers faced a difficult race weekend at the 2025 British Grand Prix, where Ferrari’s SF25 struggled in adverse weather. Starting from fifth position, Lewis Hamilton encountered setbacks after the first pitstop, as earlier-stopping competitors gained track positions. Despite these difficulties, Hamilton executed remarkable overtakes on Lance Stroll, George Russell, and Pierre Gasly, demonstrating his racecraft.
However, these maneuvers came at the cost of several off-track excursions. Hamilton candidly described his experience with the car’s handling in wet conditions, emphasizing the challenge it posed:
“As it showed there was plenty of mistakes out there and very, very tricky conditions, in really a very, very hard car to drive here – this car doesn’t like those conditions. Not ideal, but we got some points at least.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Scuderia Ferrari driver
“The tyres [were] dropping off, the car doesn’t like low-speed corners, lots of understeer, and I started knocking out the left front and then just couldn’t keep up.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Scuderia Ferrari driver
Charles Leclerc faced even tougher challenges during the race, finishing 14th out of the 15 drivers who completed the race. The Monegasque expressed his dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s race pace and called for explanations regarding the car’s performance deficiencies at the event.
Implications for Ferrari’s 2025 Season and Next Steps
The speed challenge between Leclerc and Hamilton provided fans with an engaging glimpse into the personalities and quick thinking of Ferrari’s top drivers, reinforcing the brand’s connection to technology and performance. However, the subsequent struggles at the British Grand Prix highlighted ongoing challenges for the SF25, particularly in tricky weather conditions and low-speed corners.
How Ferrari addresses these performance issues will be critical as the 2025 Formula 1 season progresses. With a strong technical partnership with IBM and advancements like the AI-enhanced Ferrari app, the team is actively blending innovation with on-track competitiveness. The outcomes of upcoming races will reveal whether Ferrari can convert promising off-track shows of skill into stronger race results for both Leclerc and Hamilton.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Charles Leclerc a millionaire?
A. By 2025, Charles Leclerc’s wealth is about $125 million. He mainly earns from a high-paying Ferrari contract, race prizes, and sponsorships.
Q. Does Charles Leclerc have a PhD?
A. Dr. Charles Leclerc earned his doctorate in neuropsychology from Université de Montréal, following a clinical and scientist training path. His doctoral research, which was published in several scientific journals, investigated how the brain reorganizes when certain parts receive little or no stimulation.
