Lewis Hamilton warned of potential disaster if Mercedes issue resurfaces at Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton told it will be ‘the end’ if Mercedes problem follows him to Ferrari.

In 2025, Lewis Hamilton made one of the most highly anticipated driver transfers in Formula 1 history, swapping Mercedes for Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion has begun his journey with the Scuderia, making his first official visit to the team’s Maranello factory and taking part in his inaugural test in Ferrari red at the Fiorano Circuit on Wednesday.

Thousands of enthusiastic Ferrari supporters gathered early in the morning at the track, eager to witness the historic moment. Hamilton did not disappoint, showcasing his exceptional car control despite challenging ‘zero-grip’ conditions.

The weather, however, dampened Charles Leclerc’s test session, as he ran alongside Hamilton. Hamilton posted a time six seconds faster than Leclerc, as the Monegasque driver was unable to complete his runs in dry conditions like his Maranello teammate.

Regardless of the time difference, the test served as valuable preparation for both Ferrari drivers ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will have their eyes set on the world championship, with the Monegasque driver especially motivated in his pursuit of a record-breaking eighth title.

For Hamilton, a major boost to his title aspirations could be on the horizon, with Martin Brundle suggesting that Ferrari may have made more progress over the winter than McLaren. The Scuderia finished just 14 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship in 2024 and will be looking to secure a better result this season.

However, entering the 2025 season, there are lingering concerns about Lewis Hamilton’s ability to perform at Ferrari after a disappointing final season with Mercedes.

Despite moments of brilliance, Lewis Hamilton ended the 2024 season in a career-low seventh place in the Drivers’ Championship. He struggled to find consistent performance with the W15, particularly in qualifying, where he was eliminated before Q3 six times. His teammate George Russell dominated their qualifying battles, winning 18-6, and outperformed Hamilton 15-9 in races.

This substantial defeat has led to doubts about Hamilton’s ability to compete at Ferrari. F1 commentator Tom Coronel has suggested that Hamilton should consider stepping away if he fails to win the title with the Scuderia.

Dutch driver Mike Hezemans, who previously spoke positively about Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, still believes it could be mutually beneficial. However, he also warned that it could be ‘the end’ for Lewis Hamilton if he is consistently outperformed by Charles Leclerc. He mentioned that he still held the same opinion, stating that Lewis Hamilton had been outperformed by Russell at Mercedes. He added that staying with Mercedes wasn’t really helping Hamilton, but moving to Ferrari could bring him back to competitive form, especially during the races.

However, he pointed out that Hamilton’s struggles with qualifying had been an issue. He speculated that Ferrari could improve, which might also help Hamilton in qualifying. But if Hamilton continued to be outperformed by Charles Leclerc, then he would face a significant problem. In that case, he believed it could mark the end of Lewis Hamilton’s career.

Will Lewis Hamilton be able to outpace Charles Leclerc at Ferrari?

At the start of their partnership, Hamilton will find himself at a disadvantage compared to his teammate. Leclerc has been deeply embedded within Ferrari since joining their academy in 2016, making him highly familiar with the team’s setup and culture.

Leclerc is renowned as one of the top qualifiers in Formula 1, and he will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent for Hamilton in 2025 and beyond, especially given Hamilton’s struggles with qualifying at Mercedes in the previous year.

This is why the British driver, now 40, is focused on adapting to Ferrari as quickly as possible. His goal is to be fully integrated into the team so he can compete at the front from the very first race of the season at the Albert Park circuit in Australia.

The internal rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be one of the most intriguing battles of 2025. Both drivers will aim to outperform one another, with the ultimate prize being Ferrari’s first drivers’ championship since 2007.

The pressure on Lewis Hamilton is already immense, with Ferrari fans expecting him to deliver a championship win. If he can find his rhythm and Ferrari provides him with a competitive car, the veteran could make history by clinching the title in red.