Piero Ferrari Dismisses Concerns Over...

Piero Ferrari Dismisses Concerns Over…read more

Piero Ferrari, son of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, has rejected concerns that Lewis Hamilton has joined the Scuderia too late in his career. The seven-time world champion, who recently turned 40, is preparing for his first season with Ferrari in 2025 after leaving Mercedes.

Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has been highly anticipated, with fans and team members giving him a warm welcome at Maranello and Fiorano. However, his transition faced an early setback after a crash during a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The incident caused significant damage to the car, preventing Charles Leclerc from participating in the test.

Despite the crash, Hamilton returned to action in Barcelona for a Pirelli tyre test, where Ferrari and McLaren ran modified cars to assist in the development of tyres for the 2026 season. While the test results were not representative of competitive performance, the published lap times gave an early comparison between Hamilton and Leclerc in identical machinery.

Hamilton posted the fastest time on the first day, clocking a lap of 1:15.930, 0.130 seconds ahead of Leclerc. However, Leclerc responded on the second day by setting a lap time 1.788 seconds faster than Hamilton. Pirelli emphasized that the results held no real significance due to differing testing programs, but the figures still drew attention.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari comes after a challenging final season at Mercedes, where he struggled in qualifying against teammate George Russell. At the penultimate race in Qatar, Hamilton admitted he was “not fast anymore,” raising questions about his form heading into the 2025 season.

Despite these concerns, Piero Ferrari is confident in Hamilton’s abilities and dismissed claims that his age could be a disadvantage. He emphasized that Hamilton remains in peak physical and mental condition, stating, “He is intact. He is fit, both physically and mentally. I don’t see age as a problem. He accepted the challenge with enormous enthusiasm and is confident of his chances.”

Hamilton has long expressed interest in driving for Ferrari, and his move is seen as a fresh challenge in his storied career. However, reports from Italy suggest that the first few races of the 2025 season will be crucial in determining the team’s hierarchy.

Ferrari is expected to begin the season with a “two-pronged attack,” treating Hamilton and Leclerc equally. However, team principal Fred Vasseur is believed to be prepared to impose team orders if one driver gains a clear advantage early on. This approach could play a key role in Ferrari’s F1 2025 title ambitions.

With Hamilton’s experience and Leclerc’s raw speed, Ferrari aims to mount a strong championship challenge. While the early test results have sparked discussions, the real test will come when the season kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix.