F1 NEWS: Lewis Hamilton Under Pressure as Ferrari Reveals Team Orders Stance…read more
Lewis Hamilton Under Pressure as Ferrari Reveals Team Orders Stance
Lewis Hamilton is facing immediate pressure at Ferrari as reports suggest the team may introduce early-season team orders in 2025. According to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the first few races of the season could be critical in determining the pecking order within Ferrari’s driver lineup. Ferrari is expected to treat both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc as equals at the start, but if one driver emerges as a stronger championship contender, the team could be forced to prioritize that driver in their title bid.
Ferrari’s decision to handle the dynamic between Hamilton and Leclerc will be pivotal in shaping their championship aspirations. The report hints that the opening races “could already be decisive in establishing a new hierarchical order” within the team, putting Hamilton under pressure to deliver strong performances early on.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, has weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the importance of Hamilton’s early form. According to Horner, how Hamilton adapts to his new environment at Ferrari will play a significant role in determining his championship chances. Horner believes that if Hamilton starts well and wins over the passionate Ferrari fanbase, the Tifosi, it could reignite his hunger for success and put him on track for another title push.
“He’s an emotional guy,” Horner said. “It really depends on how things kick off for him at Ferrari. If the Tifosi get behind him, and he gets off to a good start, then those qualities are still there. He’s still a class competitor. Even though he’s getting older in age, it depends on if that hunger and motivation is going to be rejuvenated by a new challenge and new surroundings in Ferrari.”
However, Horner also pointed out the potential challenges that come with having two highly competitive drivers on the same team. Ferrari could face a dilemma in deciding which driver to support more strongly as the season progresses. “A team like Ferrari, for example, are going to have two drivers that are going to be taking points off each other,” Horner noted. “You have to back both of them, but that sometimes becomes divisive within a team.”
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has previously addressed the issue of team orders and his approach to managing Hamilton and Leclerc. Vasseur has been clear that Ferrari’s primary goal is to win as a team, and both drivers will be given equal treatment at the start of the season. However, he also acknowledged that if circumstances dictate, the team will not hesitate to intervene and make decisions that prioritize their chances of success.
“There is a clear situation, it’s the same everywhere – we have two very good drivers, and both of them are able to do a job,” Vasseur explained. “We will have the capacity to provide them with the same car, the same structure, and the same support. What is clear is that the target is to win with Ferrari – and for Ferrari.”
Vasseur also made it clear that while there will be no designated number one or number two driver at the beginning of the season, the team will not shy away from taking action if necessary. “There will be no number one and number two, but if at one stage we have to take action, then we will take action,” Vasseur said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s for one or the other, but if at one stage in the season we have to do something, then I will do it.”
With Hamilton’s future at Ferrari hanging on his early performances and the potential implementation of team orders, the 2025 season promises to be a high-pressure environment for the seven-time World Champion as he navigates his new chapter at Ferrari.