Lewis Hamilton will need to reach the highest level to be a success at Ferrari based on the evidence given by Charles Leclerc this season. The 39-year-old is gearing up to leave Mercedes and join their Italian rivals on a multi-year deal next season.

Hamilton will take part in his final race for the Silver Arrows at this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he will be hoping to bow out on a positive note by challenging for a podium finish.

Once the weekend is done, all eyes will be on Ferrari as they prepare to welcome arguably the greatest driver the sport has ever seen.

Hamilton will need to be at his very best to win the intra-team battle with Leclerc, who has been quietly putting together a brilliant season despite going under the radar.

The 27-year-old can still finish second in the Drivers' Championship standings, with just eight points separating him and Lando Norris in second place. It is particularly impressive given Ferrari's lack of pace earlier in the campaign.

Many fans on social media have pointed this out, with some declaring that Leclerc is currently the second-best driver in the paddock behind only Max Verstappen.

"He’s put together the best, most consistent season of his career," wrote @Squirrel1633K on X (formerly Twitter). "IMO, the best driver on the grid behind Max right now."

@Crag0th added: "This year Leclerc has really come into his own, removing the mistakes that held him back previous seasons and really showing what calibre of a driver he is.

"Give him a proper car over a season and he is one of the (if not THE) driver that can currently challenge Max."

@steadyhearn wrote: "Leclerc would've been up there with Max if it wasn't for that four-race stint from Canada to Silverstone. He's been the best driver alongside Max this year."

@cwrcwr, meanwhile, had a stern warning for Hamilton ahead of his impending move to Ferrari, saying: "Lewis is gonna get sent to the retirement home just like how Seb [Vettel] was."

Only time will tell how Hamilton fares against Leclerc, who is looking forward to the prospect of working with the seven-time world champion over the coming years.

"I am super excited to be working alongside him," said Leclerc in October. "To be, yes, learning from him but at the same time it’s such an exciting challenge for me to be in the same car as such a successful driver and to be able to show what I am capable of."