Hamilton and Leclerc's chess duels first became public knowledge after F1’s live launch prior to the start of the 2025 season. The new team-mates sat at Ferrari’s table, and instead of paying attention to the entertainment, they were locked into a game of chess on their phones.

At the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, Ferrari’s star duo—Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—made waves even before hitting the track. While the rest of the grid leaned towards practical luxury SUVs—the Ferrari drivers chose stunning Maseratis, turning heads with their luxury vehicles.

Charles Leclerc said Ferrari are “just not fast enough” having just missed out the podium in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Starting the race in second, Leclerc looked likely to secure his first top-three finish of the year but lost an immediate spot to George Russell before being overtaken by Lando Norris late in the grand prix.