Changing an in-form Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season and past represents a “threat.”
That is the attitude of Luca di Montezemolo, the previous Ferrari president who led the group throughout a few of its most iconic eras, as hypothesis intensifies over the seven-time world champion’s extremely anticipated transfer to Maranello. Following the conclusion of the 2024 marketing campaign, which noticed 39-year-old Hamilton grappling with not solely a scarcity of aggressive efficiency but in addition questions round his motivation and self-belief, his upcoming partnership with Charles Leclerc has change into a serious speaking level on the earth of System 1.
Pink Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko expressed enthusiasm for Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari in his newest column for *Velocity Week*. He famous that the British driver would face one of many hardest opponents in qualifying with Charles Leclerc as his teammate, however added that Hamilton might nonetheless carry out at a world-class stage in races if the automotive was aggressive. Helmut Marko additionally noticed that Lewis Hamilton’s motivation appeared restricted when driving an uncompetitive automotive, as seen throughout his time at Mercedes, suggesting that the seven-time champion wanted the reassurance of having the ability to battle for podiums and was unlikely to push laborious for minor factors finishes.
Ex-System 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya anticipates an adjustment part for Lewis Hamilton, throughout which Charles Leclerc could initially seem to carry the benefit: “However six or seven rounds in, if the automotive is aggressive, Lewis will win the whole lot. If Ferrari offers him a very good automotive, he can positively change into champion once more.” – the previous Williams driver just lately identified.
One other ex-System 1 man, Marc Surer, defined in an interview for German web site formel1.de: “Will probably be attention-grabbing. Advertising and marketing-wise it’s a enormous win for Ferrari. They’ll promote loads of automobiles due to him.”
Nevertheless, Italian businessman Luca di Montezemolo, who spent a long time carefully related to the Italian model, believes the brand new partnership between Hamilton and Ferrari goes far past simply advertising and marketing: “Hamilton is a phenomenon like (Max) Verstappen,” he instructed Rai Gr Parlamento radio. “His arrival at Ferrari isn’t a advertising and marketing operation – he desires to finish his profession by successful in pink.” – the previous Ferrari chairman defined – “However the alternative of Lewis on one hand is a threat since you take a champion who has gained rather a lot and who involves Ferrari to win, and however there may be Leclerc who regardless of having good races has by no means gained (a title) and the years go by. Will probably be a really attention-grabbing yr for Ferrari, offered that they handle to bridge the hole with McLaren to start out already aggressive from the primary race. There additionally have to be readability of the administration inside the group,” the 77-year-old Italian continued, as reported by the Italian media.
On the identical time, Luca di Montezemolo identified the truth that he regrets the present state of affairs for Carlos Sainz, who leaves the Maranello group and won’t get the possibility to problem for podiums or race wins at the least within the neat future: “In these years, Ferrari’s downside has not been linked to the drivers. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are robust.” – the Italian added.
Sky Deutschland commentator Sascha Roos expressed the view that Carlos Sainz had delivered the most effective season of his profession to this point, attaining two race wins. Whereas acknowledging that Charles Leclerc was much more constant, Roos famous that Sainz and Leclerc fashioned a robust and efficient driver pairing at Ferrari. He urged that Ferrari would possibly come to remorse their determination to usher in Lewis Hamilton, arguing that Sainz was not considerably inferior to Hamilton, if in any respect.
Roos additional speculated that Lewis Hamilton would require time to adapt to the Ferrari, probably lacking essential alternatives within the championship battle throughout that adjustment interval. He identified that, given the robust performances of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc towards the tip of the season and the minimal modifications anticipated to the automotive for 2025, Ferrari might discover themselves initially weakened with Hamilton. Roos additionally expressed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton having the ability to dominate Charles Leclerc over the course of the season.
Commenting on Carlos Sainz’s transfer to Williams, Roos described it as the most effective out there possibility for the Spaniard, whereas predicting that Sainz won’t stay there for lengthy. He hinted at the opportunity of a future change to Cadillac and even an surprising opening at Pink Bull.
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