Lewis Hamilton Joins Ferrari for 2025 Season: Leclerc's Thoughts

Lewis Hamilton Joins Ferrari for 2025 Season: Leclerc’s Thoughts, Title Chances, and……read more

As of January 1, 2025, Lewis Hamilton has officially joined Ferrari, marking one of the most highly anticipated moves in Formula 1 history. The seven-time World Champion now teams up with the iconic Scuderia Ferrari, with the primary goal of clinching a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship title and restoring Ferrari’s glory. However, the decision to bring the 39-year-old to Maranello has raised some eyebrows, with critics questioning whether Hamilton can still perform at the highest level.

Among those who have voiced doubts is former F1 driver David Coulthard. On the Formula For Success podcast, Coulthard expressed concerns about Hamilton’s current form, stating, “He’s as low as he can be right now. But I would say that’s pretty worrying.” Coulthard acknowledged Hamilton’s exceptional career but noted that age could be a limiting factor. Fellow pundit Eddie Jordan echoed similar thoughts, advising Hamilton to consider retirement, especially given his illustrious career. Despite these external opinions, Hamilton remains determined to prove his worth and achieve further success with Ferrari.

Ferrari’s new team principal, Fred Vasseur, has placed his trust in Hamilton, even though some question the timing of the move. Critics point to the potential negative impact on team dynamics, particularly with Charles Leclerc, who has been Ferrari’s star driver in recent years. Leclerc, however, has embraced the challenge and expressed excitement about sharing a car with one of F1’s greatest drivers. “When a champion like Lewis gets to any team, it brings a lot of motivation out of every single person,” Leclerc said. The Monegasque driver is eager to learn from Hamilton’s vast experience, especially his tenure at Mercedes, and sees the British driver’s arrival as an opportunity to elevate his own performance.

For Leclerc, having Hamilton as a teammate presents both an incredible learning opportunity and a fierce challenge. “It will be amazing because I’ll have in the same car as me the most successful driver in F1 history,” Leclerc continued. He added that the arrival of Hamilton will push him to his limits and will serve as a benchmark to measure his own abilities. Leclerc is motivated to show that he can compete at the highest level and outpace Hamilton, even if it means embracing intense pressure.

While Leclerc is excited about the new partnership, the biggest casualty of Hamilton’s signing is Carlos Sainz. Sainz, who had a standout 2024 season with multiple Grand Prix wins, will be leaving Ferrari to join Williams for the 2025 season. The Spaniard’s departure has left a void in the team, but he has shown understanding of Ferrari’s decision to replace him with Hamilton. In a recent interview on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Sainz revealed that he understood the reasoning behind the move from the moment he learned of it. “I understood it almost right from the beginning,” Sainz said, acknowledging that if the decision had been for another driver, he would have taken longer to accept the change.

Ferrari’s decision to bring in Hamilton at the expense of Sainz has sparked a wave of mixed reactions. While some fans and pundits are disappointed to see Sainz leave, many believe that Hamilton’s experience and success will bring the team closer to championship contention. With Hamilton now in the fold, Ferrari is aiming to challenge for the title, making the upcoming 2025 season one of the most exciting in F1 history.