When Lewis Hamilton announced his move from Mercedes to Ferrari, the F1 world was in shock. Without question, this is the biggest-ever move for a driver in the sport. And it’s just in time for the 2025 season. There’s a multi-year contract in place too, so this is unlikely to be a short stint with the Scuderia. So, what does this mean for the sport in the season ahead?
Making the move
Over the last two seasons, Ferrari have been improving dramatically. With Red Bull’s decline in the latter half of the 2024 season, and McLaren’s impressive rise, the title fight came down to the wire. And when it came to the constructors, well, it was just a few points out of reach for Ferrari.
But with Hamilton and his seven world champion titles arriving in the garage, could this change things around? As the most decorated driver in F1 history, Hamilton is definitely one to watch. He’s already had 100 race wins, the most out of any person. But, since 2021’s controversial loss, it’s been a long four years with no win in sight. And Mercedes were not improving enough, hence the switch.
Ferrari on the rise
Ferrari, on the other hand, look like a team on the up. The car has had its issues but there are improvements. And in teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton will have a strong team player should it come down to it. Whether this is enough remains to be seen. Of course, team principle, Fred Vasseur has already announced that the 2025 car will be a completely new design, a bold statement given the work involved. This might work in Hamilton’s favour as he is unused to driving the Ferrari compared to Leclerc who has had years of practice. Additionally, there are reports that the cockpit has been tweaked with Hamilton’s arrival, so potentially there is more focus on building the car around the driver. While it’s not clear whether Hamilton has directly influenced this change, it’s well known that he was unhappy with the cockpit position in the recent Mercedes iterations. Losing speed in recent races and simply not being as fast as teammate George Russell, many thought Hamilton had lost his edge. But Ferrari may be giving this right back.
Another title?
Any one checking out the stats at betting sites will also see that there’s a lot of speculation in this area. For online betting, it’s possibly too early to tell how the season will go. The cars are yet to be unveiled, and the drivers haven’t had a chance to take them round the track. This will impact where things stand and which of the drivers look more capable behind the wheel. But there is definitely an aura of possibility with this garage switch for Hamilton.
It hasn’t looked remotely on the cards for Mercedes these last few seasons. Hamilton has had to deal with a lot from a succession of recent Mercedes cars, which really don’t seem to bet getting things right. From porpoising to lack of speed on the straights, it’s been a poor few seasons. Hamilton himself says he couldn’t be more excited about the upcoming season, so it’s really a case of sitting back and watching.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Of small note, or maybe major, Ferrari have not won a driver’s championship since Hamilton’s first year in 2007. Is Hamilton the lucky charm to turn this around? However, Leclerc has been a loyal and staunch driver for the Scuderia since 2019. He’s put his heart and soul into it, getting some major successes in the 2024 season. Additionally, he’s looked like a title contender for a couple of years, so this partnership may just be the boost he needs. Will they mix well, can they work together, or will it all get too competitive? Maybe it won’t be Hamilton clinching another title, but Leclerc. Either way, this is one season to watch. And with the title fight wide open after the end of last year, maybe the focus shouldn’t just be on Ferrari but all the teams. Regardless, with six rookies in the mix, 2025 is going to be fun.
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