In 2025, exactly half of the drivers on the Formula 1 grid will be starting fresh with new teams, marking a season of significant change. While some drivers are expected to find new energy and motivation from their moves, others might quickly second-guess their decisions.
Red Bull, the last team to finalize their driver line-up, has parted ways with Sergio Perez, reaching a mutual agreement. The team has promoted Liam Lawson from Racing Bulls to partner Max Verstappen, while Isack Hadjar takes the seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri.
McLaren stands out as the only team in the top four to maintain their existing driver pairing for 2025. However, Ferrari stirred up the driver market by signing the legendary Lewis Hamilton, a move that created significant buzz, while Mercedes responded by promoting rookie Kimi Antonelli to replace him.
In the midfield, Aston Martin has been an anomaly, sticking with their current pairing. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Jack Doohan will step into the shoes of Esteban Ocon, who leaves to join Oliver Bearman at the revamped Haas team.
Williams made a notable splash in the market, securing Carlos Sainz after his unexpected availability, while Sauber opted for a major overhaul following a disappointing season, bringing in seasoned veteran Nico Hulkenberg alongside F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.
This year’s market is a stark contrast to 2023, when every driver retained their seat, and for the first time in Formula 1 history, no rookies joined the grid.
On Viaplay’s F1 Talks 2024 end-of-season review show, former F1 driver David Coulthard weighed in on the situation surrounding Ferrari, especially in relation to Lewis Hamilton. Despite being the most successful driver in the sport’s history, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari raises some questions, especially after a less-than-ideal 2024 season. David Coulthard pointed out that while Ferrari “has to be a little bit worried” about Hamilton’s form, the 39-year-old’s past accomplishments can’t be ignored.
Lewis Hamilton’s 2024 campaign saw him finish 22 points behind his Mercedes teammate, George Russell—a disappointing yet not catastrophic gap. However, it was his struggles in qualifying that raised the most concerns, as he lost to Russell in 19 out of 24 sessions. While Lewis Hamilton often managed to recover some ground during the races, Ferrari will need him to be at his absolute best in all aspects of his performance if they are to end their long drought in securing the Constructors’ Championship, a title they haven’t claimed since 2008.
George Russell himself has stated that Lewis Hamilton could benefit from a fresh start, and David Coulthard seems to agree. He suggested that it’s easy to envision Hamilton returning to form and looking like “Superman” once he dons the Ferrari red for the 2025 season.
David Coulthard mentioned that the stopwatch does not lie and that, currently, the lap times are not reflecting the desired results. He added that Ferrari might have some concerns, but also pointed out that change can sometimes be beneficial. David Coulthard suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, and donning the red suit, could have a transformative effect, comparing it to how Superman becomes empowered when he wears his suit. The former McLaren and Red Bull driver concluded by stating that, regardless of the outcome, it will be an exciting time ahead.
Lewis Hamilton has made his first official statement as a Ferrari driver, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his illustrious career. The seven-time world champion shared with Fred Vasseur the reasons behind his struggles in qualifying last season, which may help ease any private concerns the French team principal had. It appears that some of Hamilton’s issues could have been attributed to the challenging and often unpredictable handling of the Mercedes car.
Frederic Vasseur, who managed Hamilton in the junior categories, brings a wealth of knowledge about how to get the best out of the British driver. This existing relationship between the two could prove crucial in helping Hamilton adapt quickly and effectively to his new environment at Ferrari.
Though the Brit only officially became a Ferrari driver in the past few days, he spent the final weeks of 2024 wrapping up his long and successful tenure with Mercedes. During this time, he did not participate in the post-season test with Ferrari.
Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton took to social media in the start of 2025 to send a message to Ferrari’s passionate fanbase, officially signaling the start of his journey with the iconic Italian team. The Briton is expected to make his first public appearance as a Ferrari driver at the launch event of the F1 75 in London, scheduled for February 18.
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