The new Formula 1 season is finally around the corner. Starting tomorrow, Monday, March 10, the first official “Race Week” will begin, and anticipation is high. Many questions remain about this new year: no one can say for sure who the real favorite will be, whether there will be a dominant force, and if the seven-time world champion will be competitive with the Prancing Horse. On this last point, Johnny Herbert weighs in, explaining why Hamilton will immediately be fast in the Ferrari SF25.
How did the first seasons of car number 44 go when joining a new team? Let’s take a look. His 2007 debut with McLaren was, in every respect, a true success. From the first races, he was able to match the pace of a two-time world champion like Fernando Alonso. In his debut race, he finished on the third step of the podium. Hamilton failed to finish on the podium only four times that season—five if we include the costly mistake in China, which likely cost him the championship.
His second major debut was in 2013 with Mercedes, which did not go the same way, partly due to the car’s inferiority. By the end of the year, he had secured four third-place finishes and one victory, placing him fourth in the standings, still ahead of his teammate Nico Rosberg.
And with Ferrari? How did the British driver’s debut go? Upon arriving in Maranello, Lewis found himself in a completely different environment—an Italian team with entirely different working methods compared to British teams, a Ferrari Power Unit, and a project philosophy that was the complete opposite. Because of this, his first laps at Fiorano saw some mistakes, including rear-end instability and lock-ups.
Learning continued in Barcelona with the SF23, where things took a turn for the worse. Hamilton lost control of the car at extremely high speed, crashing violently into the barriers. Test over. From there, he headed to Bahrain, where he finally took to the track with the new car. Over the three days, the British driver demonstrated an excellent feel for the SF25. He made no mistakes, drove cleanly, and posted lap times on par with his teammate.
Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert, speaking to CasinoApps.com, explained why Lewis Hamilton will adapt very quickly to Ferrari. “He adapted very quickly. When you have been at the level Lewis has for years, it doesn’t take long to settle in. That’s what he has shown so far. The car also seems quite drivable.”
“I think it resembles more what Lewis has always looked for. He likes a very responsive front end, which is exactly what he struggled with at Mercedes, where he faced a lot of understeer. It seems that Ferrari has a more precise front end, which could give him an advantage in the fight for his eighth title. I think it is absolutely possible for it to happen.” – he concluded.
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