Lewis Hamilton is about to hitch Ferrari in 2025, marking the tip of a outstanding 12-year tenure with Mercedes.
Since arriving on the Silver Arrows in 2013, the British driver has shattered numerous data. Between 2014 and 2020, Lewis Hamilton claimed six of his seven world championships, performed a pivotal function in securing eight consecutive constructors’ titles for Mercedes, and established himself as probably the most profitable driver in Components 1 historical past when it comes to race wins.
Subsequent season, the 39-year-old will don Ferrari purple, partnering with Charles Leclerc and changing Carlos Sainz, who will transfer to Williams on a multi-year deal beginning in 2025.
Hypothesis has grown over when Lewis Hamilton may need his first likelihood to drive for Ferrari earlier than the brand new season begins. Mercedes, implementing the phrases of his current contract, denied him a possibility to check on the Abu Dhabi post-season session following the 2024 finale. Nevertheless, Ferrari plans to present the British driver his first outing at their Fiorano Circuit in January, with contingency dates lined up in February ought to their preliminary schedule face delays.
Forward of his formal transition, Lewis Hamilton has already visited Maranello, partaking in discreet preparations harking back to Carlos Sainz’s behind-the-scenes conferences previous to his personal transfer to Ferrari from McLaren in 2021.
The change of the seven-time Components 1 world champion to Ferrari follows a difficult remaining season with Mercedes, the place he endured the bottom championship end of his profession, inserting seventh total. Whereas he managed two race victories in 2024—his first wins because the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix—Hamilton struggled for consistency, significantly in qualifying. Teammate George Russell constantly outperformed him throughout each Saturdays and Sundays, ending the season 22 factors forward within the standings.
Crimson Bull group principal Christian Horner weighed in on Lewis Hamilton’s transfer, suggesting that Ferrari might present the reset the veteran driver wants. Horner described Lewis Hamilton’s latest performances with Mercedes through the ground-effect period as “very flat” and speculated that the shift to Ferrari may supply the revitalization required to reignite his Components 1 profession.
In a latest interview for talkSPORT Driving, Christian Horner defined: “Lewis, that’s a giant transfer. He’s been with the Mercedes household his whole profession, so to step out of that into arguably the largest model in Components 1, Ferrari. It’s an important story for Components 1 and it may very well be simply the revitalisation of Lewis that he’s been in search of. He’s appeared very flat the final three years and maybe that relationship turned slightly stale. Lewis, he’s probably the most profitable driver within the historical past of the game and driving a Ferrari subsequent yr, [he] might effectively be a critical competitor.” – the British motorsport government and former racing driver continued.
Can Lewis Hamilton contend for the 2025 championship with Ferrari?
Heading into subsequent season, Lewis Hamilton can take encouragement from Ferrari’s promising type through the 2024 marketing campaign, significantly in its remaining phases.
Though the Scuderia narrowly missed out on the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren by a slim margin of simply 14 factors, the SF-24 demonstrated spectacular one-lap pace and stable race tempo. These strengths present a powerful platform for the group to enhance upon as they develop their 2025 challenger.
Nevertheless, questions stay about whether or not Lewis Hamilton can thrive at Ferrari, given his underwhelming season with Mercedes in 2024 and the formidable problem posed by Charles Leclerc as his teammate. Many marvel if the 39-year-old, getting into a brand new chapter in his illustrious profession, can rise to the event underneath the stress of competing alongside Ferrari’s star driver.
Regardless of these doubts, the British driver has proven flashes of his previous brilliance, even in a troublesome yr. One standout second got here in Abu Dhabi, the place the seven-time world champion delivered a masterful drive. Ranging from sixteenth on the grid, the Brit fought by the sector to assert a outstanding fourth-place end, reminding everybody of the expertise that earned him his place in F1 historical past.
As he prepares to embark on this new enterprise with Scuderia Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton will goal to channel that very same willpower and ability to take advantage of a automotive that may very well be able to difficult for championship glory.
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