Lewis Hamilton is about to start a recent chapter in his illustrious Formulation 1 profession in 2025 as he transitions from Mercedes to Scuderia Ferrari.
Throughout his 12-year tenure with Mercedes, the seven-time world champion amassed six titles and shattered quite a few data. Nevertheless, his remaining season with the Silver Arrows in 2024 proved to be his most difficult, ending a disappointing seventh within the championship standings. Regardless of securing two standout victories at Silverstone and Spa—his first wins since 2021— Lewis Hamilton struggled with constant efficiency and tempo throughout qualifying. Now, he seems to be to go away these frustrations behind as he takes on the problem of driving for Ferrari, the game’s most storied workforce.
Ferrari’s 2024 marketing campaign confirmed promise, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivering 5 victories, 4 pole positions, and a powerful 22 podiums mixed. The Scuderia narrowly missed out on the Constructors’ Championship, dropping to McLaren by simply 14 factors. But, because the season drew to a detailed, Mercedes and McLaren emerged as stronger contenders. George Russell claimed a commanding win in Las Vegas, whereas Lando Norris dominated the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari comes at a time when his former workforce could have positioned itself for a aggressive edge in 2025, elevating questions on whether or not the Briton might in the end remorse his determination.
Mercedes and McLaren could maintain a bonus going into the brand new season, because of their pioneering use of aero-elastic entrance wing know-how.
Grand Prix editor for Motor Sport journal, Mark Hughes, has highlighted how Mercedes and McLaren found a groundbreaking technical function in 2024, giving them a definite edge over Ferrari and Pink Bull. This innovation rendered Pink Bull’s once-dominant aerodynamic designs out of date and contributed to their sudden lack of type. Hughes means that as a result of Ferrari and Pink Bull have but to undertake this strategy, they might discover themselves trailing their rivals at the beginning of the 2025 season.
Mark Hughes defined on The Race F1 Podcast that among the many prime 4 groups, McLaren and Mercedes had made vital progress with aero-elastic entrance wings, which grew to become the dominant technical function of the season. He famous that this growth rendered Pink Bull’s beforehand revolutionary aerodynamics, together with their refined flooring design and intelligent suspension integration, virtually out of date. These components had been key to Pink Bull’s two-and-a-bit years of dominance however had been shortly overshadowed by McLaren’s early adoption and Mercedes’ subsequent implementation of the brand new know-how.
Mark Hughes added that neither Ferrari nor Pink Bull selected to observe this strategy, doubtlessly placing them at a drawback except they adapt relying on how the FIA regulates this space for 2025. He steered will probably be intriguing to see if there’s a aggressive reset with all 4 groups adopting this know-how, reasonably than simply two. Hughes additionally said that Mercedes at the moment has a head begin over Ferrari and Pink Bull on this space however nonetheless faces challenges in catching up in different technological elements.
Can Lewis Hamilton face defeat by the hands of Mercedes in 2025?
Whereas Mercedes would possibly maintain an edge over Ferrari with their revolutionary entrance wing know-how heading into the 2025 season, as Mark Hughes highlighted, their general bundle nonetheless requires refinement. Consistency will likely be key if the Silver Arrows goal to problem the Maranello squad and different frontrunners.
The workforce ended 2024 a distant fourth within the Constructors’ Championship, marking a steep decline from their dominant previous. Compounding their challenges is the lack of the seven-time Formulation 1 world champion, whose departure leaves a major hole in each management and expertise. Changing him with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, although promising, is a bet.
Antonelli arrives with immense potential and an in depth testing report with the workforce, setting the stage for a ready debut season. Nevertheless, the stress to ship robust outcomes proper out of the gate will likely be immense. The younger Italian’s readiness will likely be examined, as Mercedes can not afford to falter additional within the extremely aggressive midfield.
George Russell is well-poised to tackle the position of workforce chief, having demonstrated his capabilities by outperforming Hamilton in qualifying and race battles all through 2024. His management will likely be important as Mercedes rebuilds and adapts to a post-Hamilton period.
Regardless of their technological advances, weaknesses in different areas of the automobile’s efficiency might hinder their progress. To constantly outpace Ferrari and their rivals, Mercedes should tackle these vulnerabilities and guarantee their bundle is able to delivering outcomes throughout a full season.
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