Hamilton makes staggering claim over Ferrari F1 driver line-up

Lewis Hamilton has claimed the current driver line-up pairing at Ferrari is the “strongest” F1 has seen throughout its 75-year history.

Hamilton has joined the Italian squad this year following 12 seasons at Mercedes, where he won six of his seven F1 titles.

The 40-year-old partners Charles Leclerc in the squad as the latter enters his seventh season in red.

Leclerc has won eight grand prix during his time with the Ferrari team but has now set his sights on achieving an even bigger feat.

“The main priority is to bring Ferrari back to the top,” Leclerc said.

“Ferrari has always been my one and only dream - the next one is to be a world champion in red.”

Ferrari narrowly missed out on the constructors' title last year to rivals McLaren, while its drivers' championship success drought stretches back to 2007.

As the Italian squad aims to get back to the forefront of the F1 grid, Hamilton has suggested his partnership with Leclerc is the best witnessed in the sport.

"We’re the strongest pairing F1 has probably ever had," Hamilton stated.

Hamilton will make his race debut for Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix next weekend after concluding his pre-season preparations in Bahrain last month.

Outlining the appeal of signing for Ferrari, Hamilton added: “I have always imagined what it would be like sitting in the cockpit, surrounded by red.

“I have always seen the drivers that have come before me in red and wondered how that would look on me.”