Tag: Lewis Hamilton

This article from BBC Sport delves into Hamilton’s move to the sport’s most iconic team.

“The sport’s biggest star… has joined its most iconic team.”

Benson, 2025

Reasons for the move

Hamilton signed with Ferrari in January 2024, just over six months after sealing a new contract with Mercedes.

Mercedes wanted to offer Hamilton only a one-year contract, but the seven-time world champion knew he wanted to stay in F1 longer. Mercedes’ reticence to commit to him led Hamilton to consider his future.

Hamilton, ambitious to win a record eighth title of which he was robbed in a mishandling of the rules during the race in Abu Dhabi 2021, approached Ferrari and the team were keen to take him aboard.

Hamilton’s 2024 Season’s Struggles

Mercedes’ poor performance in 2024 undoubtedly contributed to his decision to move for the 2025 season.

Hamilton was comprehensively out-qualified by team-mate George Russell, finishing 22 points behind after struggling with the characteristics of the car for the whole year.

Is he past his prime?

Hamilton turned 40 in January and is the second oldest driver in F1.

Whilst other drivers have continued in the sport past this age, it is known that sports performance deteriorates with ageing, which puts into question how much longer Hamilton will be able to cope with the physical demands and perform well in the sport.

Can he beat Leclerc?

Hamilton’s new teammate is none other than Ferrari protégé Charles Leclerc, nurtured by the team since he was a teenager.

He is richly talented and regarded as possibly the fastest driver over one lap in F1 at the moment, excelling in qualifying.

Hamilton is aware of his rival’s talents: “Charles is very professional, very embedded in this team. He is very fast and I am completely aware of that. You have seen his qualifying laps.”

“I told him in Bahrain many years ago (in 2019) he had a bright future ahead of him. It is not going to be easy to beat him. Especially in his home. But we will work together and have some great races, I hope.”

“Charles is very professional, very embedded in this team”

Hamilton, 2025

What does he want to achieve?

Hamilton wants an eighth world title. Given his level of career success, and Ferrari’s history in F1, nothing less than a championship will suffice.

He says: “This team already has an insane legacy and are not short of championships they have won. They have a winning mentality in their DNA.

“The competition is fierce. It is going to be close. but I have a great team-mate, the energy I have seen from the team, there is magic here.

If this is not the case, the minimum of success would be to come out on top against Leclerc.

“There is magic here.”

Hamilton, 2025