Lewis Hamilton’s debut race for Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix didn’t unfold as he had hoped, marking a tough start to his new chapter in Formula 1.
Amid some of the most challenging conditions he’s encountered in his career, Hamilton could only manage a 10th-place finish, securing the final point available for Ferrari. Despite his efforts, he finished behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who crossed the line two positions ahead of him. To add to his frustrations, Hamilton was overtaken by Oscar Piastri on the final lap, with the McLaren driver showcasing superior speed and performance.
There were moments early in the weekend when Ferrari appeared poised to challenge the top teams, especially given their strong showing in practice. However, as the race progressed, Mercedes and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull proved to have a clear pace advantage over both Ferrari drivers. This, combined with the difficulty Hamilton and Leclerc faced in overtaking Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda, revealed that Ferrari still has work to do if they want to be competitive.
Th seven-time Formula 1 world champion also experienced some communication issues over the team radio, which will likely be addressed as he settles into working with new race engineer Riccardo Adami. Charles Leclerc, too, had his frustrations with team communications, though it’s clear that both drivers have room for improvement in this area.
After the Australian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc holds a narrow points advantage over Hamilton, having been the quicker Ferrari driver throughout the weekend. However, in an interview, former world champion Nigel Mansell issued a warning to the Monegasque, suggesting that the Briton’s presence at Ferrari might pose a serious challenge to the Monegasque driver’s championship hopes. Nigel Mansell highlighted that Ferrari is likely to give Hamilton whatever he asks for, which could significantly impact Leclerc’s position within the team and his ambitions for the season.
In an interview with *The Guardian* regarding Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Nigel Mansell shared his admiration for the British driver, stating that Hamilton is “super intelligent” and “super clever,” adding that he has always been a huge fan of him throughout his career. Mansell emphasized that Hamilton possesses the motivation and mindset necessary for success, suggesting that the 2025 season will help rejuvenate him to the level he was at five or ten years ago. He also noted that joining Ferrari is incredibly inspiring for Hamilton, as it opens many doors for him. According to Nigel Mansell, Hamilton can now request virtually anything from Ferrari, and the team will likely accommodate his needs to ensure he can succeed. He concluded by expressing confidence that Ferrari would provide Hamilton with everything required to achieve his goals and stated that, unless proven otherwise, he believes Hamilton will get the job done.
Lewis Hamilton is determined to have a more successful career at Ferrari than Nigel Mansell, whose time with the legendary team was far from smooth. Nigel Mansell, one of the few British drivers to race for Ferrari in modern Formula 1, joins a select group that includes Eddie Irvine and, for a brief period, Oliver Bearman. As Hamilton prepares for his debut with the team, he is undoubtedly hoping for a more prosperous stint than Mansell’s experience, which was marked by several challenges during his two years with Ferrari in 1989 and 1990.
In his first season, Nigel Mansell was paired with Gerhard Berger, and while he outperformed his teammate, Berger completed only three races, each of which ended in a podium finish. Despite Mansell’s strong showing, the dynamics of the team would soon shift. In 1990, Ferrari brought in Alain Prost, one of the most successful drivers in the sport. Prost’s arrival was a clear signal that the team was prioritizing him, with Prost finishing the season nearly doubling Mansell’s points tally. Ferrari’s emphasis on Prost led to a controversial end to the final race of the season, which prevented Prost from winning the championship against Ayrton Senna.
Nigel Mansell’s experience at Ferrari showed him firsthand what happens when a team places all their focus on one driver, and he is right to caution both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc about the importance of taking control of their situations within the team. Given Ferrari’s intentions to make Hamilton their number one driver, it’s possible that he could influence the development of the car, both for the current season and the 2026 regulations, tailoring it to suit his driving style. This potential control over car development could be pivotal for Hamilton’s success at Ferrari, and he will likely be looking to ensure that his career at the Scuderia is far more successful than Mansell’s.
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