Charles Leclerc

In 2006 Lewis Hamilton became GP2’S second rookie champion and 11 years later Leclerc, with the series renamed Formula 2, became the fourth. Linking those two achievements is Guillaume Capietto – technical director at ART Grand Prix in 2006, who now holds that role at Prema Racing, where Leclerc racked up seven wins and eight poles in 2017.

“He was impressive, especially in the races,” Capietto says of Hamilton, who he also worked with him during the Briton’s title-winning Formula 3 Euro Series season in 2005.

Having seen the pair race, and succeed, at the final step on the single-seater ladder before Formula 1, Capietto reckons they are directly comparable in their ability to thrive in changeable conditions, which he feels is what separates the great from the good drivers.

“Where it’s changing, you see where the top guys [are quicker],” he says.

Leclerc’s dominant 2017 season would have had even more shine had he not lost a pole (in Hungary) and a win (at Spa) due to technical infringements. He also lost an on-the-road victory in Azerbaijan as it was deemed he had failed to slow sufficiently for yellow flags. His response to those issues – particularly his drive from last to fourth at the Hungaroring – reminded Capietto of Hamilton’s GP2 charge at Istanbul in 2006.

“They know what they want and they have the talent and the character to achieve [it],” he says.