Lewis Hamilton Embarks on New Ferrari Period however Faces a Distinctive and Demanding Problem
Lewis Hamilton has formally begun a recent chapter in his Formulation 1 profession with Ferrari, however former driver and Sky Sports activities pundit Anthony Davidson insists {that a} important and demanding problem awaits him at Maranello.
The seven-time world champion has left Mercedes behind in pursuit of an elusive eighth title, a feat that might see him surpass Michael Schumacher’s legendary tally. Whereas Schumacher’s dominance with Ferrari cemented his standing as an F1 icon, the British driver now hopes to carve out his personal historic legacy in purple.
By changing Carlos Sainz, who has signed with Williams to stay on the grid, Hamilton turns into the twelfth British driver to race for Ferrari. This marks simply the third crew change in his illustrious 18-season profession, having began with McLaren in 2007 earlier than shifting to Mercedes in 2013, the place he constructed an period of dominance.
Lewis Hamilton Faces a Steep Studying Curve Adapting to Ferrari’s Energy Unit
For the primary time in his profession, Lewis Hamilton will compete with a Ferrari engine underneath his proper foot. Having spent almost 20 years racing with Mercedes energy, the 40-year-old now faces a wholly new mechanical problem that would outline his debut season with the Scuderia.
Anthony Davidson believes that transitioning from a Mercedes to a Ferrari energy unit will probably be one in every of Hamilton’s hardest changes. The traits of Ferrari’s engine—notably its hybrid vitality deployment, throttle response, and general drivability—are vastly totally different from what Lewis Hamilton has mastered all through his profession.
Regardless of holding the all-time data for Grand Prix victories (105), podium finishes (202), and pole positions (104), Hamilton can not depend on previous expertise alone to overcome this shift. Davidson means that Hamilton could have to take inspiration from Fernando Alonso, a driver famend for his adaptability throughout totally different groups and energy models, if he desires to maximise Ferrari’s potential and thrive in his first season in purple.
Anthony Davidson instructed RacingNews365 that he believed even Lewis Hamilton himself was desperate to see how lengthy it will take to adapt to Ferrari’s energy unit. Having spent his whole profession with Mercedes engines, Hamilton was going through a major problem.
The Sky Sports activities pundit emphasised that, no matter a driver’s expertise, adjusting to a brand new energy unit was by no means simple. Nonetheless, he pointed to Fernando Alonso for instance of somebody who had efficiently tailored to a number of totally different energy models all through his profession. Given Lewis Hamilton’s expertise and talent set, Davidson advised that making the transition was definitely doable.
Earlier than becoming a member of Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton had solely ever pushed Mercedes V8 and V6 engines in Formulation 1.
In distinction, Fernando Alonso has skilled an unlimited array of energy models since making his debut with Minardi in 2001. The 43-year-old, the one driver on the 2025 grid older than Hamilton, has raced with engines from Cosworth, Renault, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda. His intensive résumé contains Cosworth and Renault V10s, Renault, Mercedes, and Ferrari V8s, in addition to Ferrari, Honda, Renault, and Mercedes V6s.
The British driver, nonetheless, has solely relied on Mercedes-built engines all through his profession and now faces the problem of adapting to Ferrari’s energy unit. His first style of Ferrari equipment got here at Fiorano, the place greater than 1,000 followers gathered to witness his debut run in a 2023-spec automobile. He then took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for a extra intensive check, giving him an opportunity to push the boundaries as Ferrari took full benefit of the non-public session.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
