Former Formula 1 boss Eddie Jordan believes Ferrari will be....with Lewis Hamilton

Former Formula 1 boss Eddie Jordan believes Ferrari will be….with Lewis Hamilton joining the team, but warns that…read more.

Former Formula 1 boss Eddie Jordan believes Ferrari will be a formidable force with Lewis Hamilton joining the team, but warns that the young Kimi Antonelli is not yet ready to take on the pressure of replacing Hamilton at Mercedes.

Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari, announced earlier this year, made waves across the motorsport world. His departure from Mercedes, where he spent almost two decades and achieved record-breaking success, marks the end of an era. With seven world championships and 105 Grand Prix wins, Hamilton’s career has been synonymous with Mercedes, but his decision to join Ferrari for 2025 has opened a new chapter.

Jordan, speaking on the Formula For Success podcast, explained that the timing of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is ideal. “At the beginning of the year, Lewis was without a doubt focused on joining Ferrari,” Jordan said, adding that Hamilton ensured Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, was on board with his plans. Jordan believes Ferrari will thrive with Hamilton, predicting that both the team and driver will be “incredibly strong” next season.

Hamilton’s departure leaves a significant gap at Mercedes, and the search for his replacement led to 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli. While some believed experienced drivers like Carlos Sainz could have been a better fit alongside George Russell, Mercedes ultimately chose Antonelli, a highly-touted young talent. Jordan, however, is not convinced Antonelli is the right choice for such a high-pressure role.

Antonelli’s first official Formula 1 outing was at his home race, the Italian Grand Prix, during a practice session at Monza. However, his debut was far from ideal. After just ten minutes on the track, Antonelli lost control and crashed, ending his first session prematurely and raising concerns about his readiness for F1.

Jordan pointed to Antonelli’s performance as proof that he may not be ready for the demands of a top team like Mercedes. “I thought the pressure of Mercedes would be too much for Kimi, and that’s exactly how it played out,” Jordan said, referring to the young driver’s crash. Despite this, Mercedes has confirmed Antonelli as Hamilton’s replacement for 2025.

While Jordan acknowledges Antonelli’s talent, he believes the young driver needs more experience before stepping into a role as crucial as Hamilton’s replacement. “There’s definitely a place for Kimi, but it’s not at Mercedes right now,” Jordan argued. He suggested that Antonelli would benefit from a year at a smaller team where he could develop and learn without the intense scrutiny that comes with driving for Mercedes.

Jordan’s skepticism stems from the immense pressure Mercedes drivers face. He recalled Hamilton’s own rookie season in 2007, when the Briton nearly won the world championship in his first year. Despite the pressure, Hamilton rose to the occasion, becoming a world champion the following year. Jordan, however, isn’t convinced that Antonelli can follow the same path.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that Antonelli is part of the team’s long-term strategy, despite his rocky debut. With Mercedes having spent years grooming George Russell to eventually lead the team, Wolff’s decision to opt for Antonelli over more experienced options has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of rumors that Wolff had previously coveted Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Jordan, however, thinks the decision to promote Antonelli may have been driven by financial considerations, as the team looks to move on from Hamilton’s high salary. While Antonelli comes with a much smaller price tag, Jordan remains cautious about the teenager’s ability to handle the challenges ahead.

As Hamilton prepares to begin his next chapter with Ferrari, the spotlight will be on Antonelli to see if he can rise to the occasion and prove his doubters wrong. For now, though, Jordan believes that the young driver needs time to grow before he can truly take on the mantle of being Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes.