Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari put to the test
It has been over a year since the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, and only at the end of January did the marriage between the seven-time world champion and the Maranello team become “tangible,” with the first photos of Sir Lewis in red and the initial tests at Fiorano and Montmeló. Now, the Briton is set for the shakedown of the SF-25 on February 19, followed by his first real on-track comparison with teammate Charles Leclerc and the rest of the grid.
In short, things will get serious soon, and this partnership will be put to the test by the end of the month during Bahrain testing. For former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, these will be decisive days, as Lewis Hamilton has turned 40, and if his first impressions of the SF-25 are not positive, he could lose motivation—something that may have already happened at times in recent years with Mercedes.
Bernie Ecclestone’s words
“I don’t think Lewis will receive the same attention at Ferrari,” Ecclestone told the Telegraph. “First of all, the team is happy with Leclerc, and Charles speaks their language. Even if Lewis does well, there will still be many enemies, because he arrived suddenly.”
“Hamilton won’t last two years at Maranello,” Bernie Ecclestone added. “Piero Ferrari, who brought him there, thinks he did the right thing, and I hope that’s the case. I hope they don’t end up regretting this move. Lewis stands out in a way that may not be appreciated. He is very talented as a driver—not to the extent people attribute to him, but enough to win races.” – he pointed out.
“I have my own theory about age: it doesn’t matter how old you are, but how long you’ve been doing the same thing. With Lewis, I felt he had grown tired and lost motivation. If he had never won a world championship, it would be different, but he has won seven.” – the British business magnate, motorsport executive and former racing driver concluded.
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