In 2025, Lewis Hamilton will make a monumental shift, leaving Mercedes for Ferrari on a multi-year deal, buying and selling his acquainted silver for the long-lasting crimson.
The 39-year-old revealed this stunning transfer in February, even earlier than getting behind the wheel of Mercedes’ W15 for the 2024 season. Hamilton has lengthy expressed his frustration with Mercedes’ struggles within the ground-effect period, because the group has failed to supply him with a aggressive automotive able to persistently difficult for titles.
His swap to Ferrari marks the start of a contemporary problem for Hamilton, probably his remaining chapter in Formulation 1. The transfer comes at a pivotal second, with new technical laws set to come back into play in 2026, and Hamilton’s expertise might present a bonus. Ferrari may use his time within the simulator to familiarize him with the up to date automotive specs forward of the brand new laws, probably turning his struggles at Mercedes into an asset.
Nonetheless, the query looms giant: will Hamilton discover success at Ferrari, or will he be a part of the ranks of different illustrious drivers who fell wanting profitable a world championship with the group?
Hamilton will undoubtedly be aiming for a record-breaking eighth title to surpass Michael Schumacher’s achievements. By becoming a member of Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton enters a prestigious group of legendary drivers who’ve donned the Maranello crimson, together with Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, and Kimi Raikkonen. Michael Schumacher, who moved to the Italian facet in 1996 after two world titles with Benetton, turned the group’s most profitable driver, claiming 72 victories and 5 consecutive championships from 2000 to 2004.
Though Schumacher’s report stood for a few years because the benchmark for F1 success, Hamilton surpassed it to change into the game’s most profitable driver, matching Schumacher’s seven titles in 2020. Now, the British driver is hoping to safe that elusive eighth title with Ferrari after falling brief with Mercedes. However whereas the comparisons to Schumacher are inevitable, some wonder if Hamilton can replicate the German’s success at Maranello.
Ralf Schumacher has commented that his brother’s legacy in Ferrari is gentle years forward of Lewis Hamilton’s prospects, and whereas it’s unlikely Hamilton will match Schumacher’s race wins at Ferrari, he nonetheless stands a stable likelihood of competing for titles. The truth is, Ferrari’s sudden success with their 2025 replace in Qatar has boosted Hamilton’s confidence heading into subsequent season, because the group seems to have a package deal able to competing with Crimson Bull and matching McLaren’s efficiency.
This transfer to Ferrari gives Lewis Hamilton a exceptional alternative to additional cement his legacy, with 2025 probably being his greatest shot at securing one other world championship.
Nonetheless, whereas Lewis Hamilton enters a group with a wealthy historical past of success, there may be an plain strain to succeed and keep away from the destiny of different world champions who did not clinch a title with Ferrari. Fernando Alonso’s tenure at Ferrari serves as a cautionary story. After becoming a member of the group from Renault in 2010, Fernando Alonso spent 5 seasons combating for the championship, solely to fall brief in each 2010 and 2012, ending as runner-up to Sebastian Vettel’s Crimson Bull in each years.
Sebastian Vettel additionally skilled comparable disappointment throughout his time on the Maranello group from 2015 to 2020, unable to seize a title regardless of coming shut on a number of events. This shadow of failure hangs over Lewis Hamilton as he embarks on his personal Ferrari journey, as he will definitely hope to keep away from becoming a member of the ranks of those that couldn’t obtain glory with the famed group.
Whereas Ferrari has proven potential for fulfillment within the upcoming seasons, the group’s inconsistencies—reminiscent of poor technique calls and automotive setup points—stay a priority. Hamilton’s personal current struggles with Mercedes solely add to the uncertainty surrounding his means to succeed at Ferrari. Nonetheless, a contemporary begin in a brand new setting may present the boldness increase the British driver’s must succeed. If anybody has the expertise to copy Schumacher’s success at Maranello, it’s Lewis Hamilton. However as historical past has proven, even one of the best drivers can wrestle at Ferrari, and the seven-time F1 world champion’s legacy may both be enhanced or tarnished relying on his efficiency within the coming F1 campaigns.
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