Former F1 driver believes Lewis Hamilton’s arrival has compelled Ferrari to make a crucial adjustment. Lewis Hamilton’s arrival has forced Scuderia Ferrari into one important change.

Lewis Hamilton is just weeks away from making his official debut as a Ferrari driver at the Australian Grand Prix, a moment that has been over a year in the making since he announced his surprise departure from Mercedes ahead of the 2024 season. Ferrari finds itself in the strongest position it has been in for some time, with a genuine chance at challenging for the drivers’ championship this season.

For the first time in years, the Scuderia boasts a star-studded lineup, with Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, joining forces with the talented Charles Leclerc, a two-time Italian Grand Prix winner. This pairing has generated immense excitement among Ferrari fans, as the team looks to capitalize on their strengthened roster.

However, Anthony Davidson has cautioned Hamilton about the challenge that lies ahead as he adapts to Ferrari’s power unit, marking the first time in his illustrious 18-year Formula 1 career that he will not be behind the wheel of a Mercedes-powered car. The British driver will need to adjust to the unique characteristics of Ferrari’s engine, including its drivability and power delivery, which will undoubtedly be a significant change for Hamilton.

As Hamilton gets to grips with his new team and car, it will take some time before he is fully capable of competing at the front of the pack consistently. Eddie Jordan has already advised the Monegasque to capitalize on the early part of the season to build an advantage over Hamilton in what is expected to be a tough 24-race campaign. The pair will first experience the SF-25 at the Fiorano circuit on February 19, just one day after the F175 live show in London’s O2 Arena, which will mark Ferrari’s official launch event for the new car.

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes that the British driver’s arrival at the Maranello team has led the team to shift their focus, and that the priority may no longer be entirely on Charles Leclerc. The former Williams driver suggests that the team’s strategy and approach could now be tailored around Lewis Hamilton’s strengths and experience, potentially altering the dynamic within the team as they prepare for the challenges of the 2025 season.

Juan Pablo Montoya suggested that the situation at Ferrari could become somewhat awkward, given how everything would unfold. The Colombian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 2001 to 2006, pointed out that the team had always prioritized Charles’ success, but now they would be focusing heavily on ensuring Lewis performs well. He also expressed the view that it wouldn’t make sense for Ferrari to hire Lewis Hamilton, conduct tests, and then concentrate more on Charles’ needs than on what the team actually requires.

During Ferrari’s Pirelli tyre test at Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc resumed action after Hamilton’s crash earlier in the session. Both drivers gathered valuable data on Pirelli’s 2026 tyres, contributing to the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.

McLaren also participated in the testing, with Lando Norris taking to the track in an older car. Norris completed an impressive 159 laps, setting a benchmark that was more than seven-tenths faster than the best times set by Hamilton and Leclerc. However, the context behind these lap times is important, as the testing conditions and other variables could have played a significant role.

What stood out more was the slight advantage Hamilton had over Leclerc, managing to set a time just over one-tenth quicker despite both drivers completing nearly the same number of laps (87 for Lewis Hamilton and 86 for Charles Leclerc). This outcome is a promising indicator as Ferrari looks ahead to the pre-season test in Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit, which is just two weeks away. The team is eager to make a strong start with their revamped car, which has undergone significant changes over the winter break.