Lewis Hamilton is ready to start a recent chapter in his illustrious System 1 profession in 2025 as he transitions from Mercedes to Scuderia Ferrari.
Throughout his 12-year tenure with Mercedes, the seven-time world champion amassed six titles and shattered quite a few information. Nevertheless, his ultimate season with the Silver Arrows in 2024 proved to be his most difficult, ending a disappointing seventh within the championship standings. Regardless of securing two standout victories at Silverstone and Spa—his first wins since 2021— Lewis Hamilton struggled with constant efficiency and tempo throughout qualifying. Now, he seems to go away these frustrations behind as he takes on the problem of driving for Ferrari, the game’s most storied crew.
Ferrari’s 2024 marketing campaign confirmed promise, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivering 5 victories, 4 pole positions, and a formidable 22 podiums mixed. The Scuderia narrowly missed out on the Constructors’ Championship, shedding to McLaren by simply 14 factors. But, because the season drew to an in depth, Mercedes and McLaren emerged as stronger contenders. George Russell claimed a commanding win in Las Vegas, whereas Lando Norris dominated the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari comes at a time when his former crew might have positioned itself for a aggressive edge in 2025, elevating questions on whether or not the Briton might finally remorse his choice.
Mercedes and McLaren might maintain a bonus going into the brand new season, due to their pioneering use of aero-elastic entrance wing know-how.
Grand Prix editor for Motor Sport journal, Mark Hughes, has highlighted how Mercedes and McLaren found a groundbreaking technical characteristic in 2024, giving them a definite edge over Ferrari and Crimson Bull. This innovation rendered Crimson Bull’s once-dominant aerodynamic designs out of date and contributed to their sudden lack of kind. Hughes means that as a result of Ferrari and Crimson Bull have but to undertake this strategy, they might discover themselves trailing their rivals firstly of the 2025 season.
Mark Hughes defined on The Race F1 Podcast that among the many prime 4 groups, McLaren and Mercedes had made important progress with aero-elastic entrance wings, which grew to become the dominant technical characteristic of the season. He famous that this growth rendered Crimson Bull’s beforehand modern aerodynamics, together with their subtle flooring design and intelligent suspension integration, nearly out of date. These components had been key to Crimson Bull’s two-and-a-bit years of dominance however had been rapidly overshadowed by McLaren’s early adoption and Mercedes’ subsequent implementation of the brand new know-how.
Mark Hughes added that neither Ferrari nor Crimson Bull selected to observe this strategy, probably placing them at a drawback until they adapt relying on how the FIA regulates this space for 2025. He prompt it will likely be intriguing to see if there’s a aggressive reset with all 4 groups adopting this know-how, somewhat than simply two. Hughes additionally said that Mercedes at the moment has a head begin over Ferrari and Crimson Bull on this space however nonetheless faces challenges in catching up in different technological facets.
Can Lewis Hamilton face defeat by the hands of Mercedes in 2025?
Whereas Mercedes may maintain an edge over Ferrari with their modern entrance wing know-how heading into the 2025 season, as Mark Hughes highlighted, their general package deal nonetheless requires refinement. Consistency will probably be key if the Silver Arrows purpose to problem the Maranello squad and different frontrunners.
The crew ended 2024 a distant fourth within the Constructors’ Championship, marking a steep decline from their dominant previous. Compounding their challenges is the lack of the seven-time System 1 world champion, whose departure leaves a major hole in each management and expertise. Changing him with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, although promising, is a big gamble.
Antonelli arrives with immense potential and an intensive testing file with the crew, setting the stage for a ready debut season. Nevertheless, the strain to ship robust outcomes proper out of the gate will probably be immense. The younger Italian’s readiness will probably be examined, as Mercedes can’t afford to falter additional within the extremely aggressive midfield.
George Russell is well-poised to tackle the function of crew chief, having demonstrated his capabilities by outperforming Hamilton in qualifying and race battles all through 2024. His management will probably be vital as Mercedes rebuilds and adapts to a post-Hamilton period.
Regardless of their technological advances, weaknesses in different areas of the automobile’s efficiency might hinder their progress. To constantly outpace Ferrari and their rivals, Mercedes should tackle these vulnerabilities and guarantee their package deal is able to delivering outcomes throughout a full season.
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