Lewis Hamilton believes there’s a special spark at Ferrari that could help him make Formula 1 history.
The buzz around Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari ignited last February when he announced his departure from Mercedes at the end of 2024. This storyline has captured the attention as we gear up for the new season, with Australia set to kick off proceedings on March 16—the first time since 2019.
“I’ve been part of teams that have clinched world championships, so I know what it takes,” shared Hamilton, who clinched his first title in 2008 with McLaren followed by six more with Mercedes. No one has claimed eight titles yet.
“The passion at Ferrari is unmatched. They have all it takes to win a world championship. It’s about getting all the pieces in sync.”
Ferrari hasn’t celebrated a driver’s champion since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, and it’s been 17 years since their last constructors’ title. Just last year, McLaren outpaced them by 14 points.
Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, is confident saying Hamilton is poised to be a championship contender. Christian Horner from Red Bull agrees.
“If Lewis gets a strong start, rallies the team, and vibes off that energy, he could become a serious contender,” Horner remarked. “Everything depends on how quickly he meshes with the team. We know what Lewis can do, and a fresh environment could galvanize him.”
Hamilton shares the existing record for driver titles with Michael Schumacher, who claimed five of his seven titles with Ferrari. For Hamilton, clinching one with Ferrari would be a whole new achievement. “An eighth title would be amazing, but for me, it’s like winning the first one again—bringing Ferrari back to the top,” Hamilton expressed. “My focus is on winning a championship that the team hasn’t bagged in a while. It’s all about my contribution to making that happen.”
This season is set to be fiercely competitive. In 2022, new aerodynamic rules were meant to intensify the competition, but Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated both that year and in 2023.
Even though Verstappen snagged the drivers’ title again last year for his fourth consecutive win, the journey wasn’t a breeze, and Red Bull was unseated as constructors’ champions. Steven drivers from four different teams clinched Grand Prix wins, a feat not seen since 2012.
With regulations set to change drastically next year, Verstappen anticipates a tight race this season. “That’s precisely what the rules aimed for,” he said. “I hope it’s thrilling and we see more winners and teams on the podium. It’d be great for the sport.”
Hamilton also foresees a neck-and-neck race at the top. Among the favorites is fellow Brit, Lando Norris, from McLaren.
Last year, Norris, along with teammate Oscar Piastri, helped McLaren secure its first constructors’ title since 1998. Norris clinched four Grand Prix victories and finished second in the overall standings, just behind Verstappen.
Norris talks about the new challenge this year as the team handles its newfound success, wondering if they will grow complacent or strive for more. He’s hopeful it’s the latter. “Our mantra is to start strong. We’ve never kicked off as favorites, so it’s crucial to maintain the momentum from last year,” he shared.
Norris found himself 63 points behind Verstappen after the first five Grands Prix but turned the tide post-Miami with four wins. Despite the odds, he aims to prove McLaren’s mettle against titans like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
Norris expects a push from Piastri too, who secured two wins last season. To boost Norris’s challenge against Verstappen, McLaren favored him strategically late in the last season. But this year, it’s a clean slate for Piastri, who’s eager to capitalize on the opportunity. “I’m eyeing the world championship this year,” he declared. “With the right car from the start, anything is possible.”
That said, both Norris and Piastri know they’ll be tested against Verstappen in intense wheel-to-wheel battles. Norris admits he needs to step up his game to compete with Verstappen, one of the toughest competitors out there.
Verstappen’s role at Red Bull sees less friction as he welcomes a new teammate, Liam Lawson, a New Zealander who moves up from AlphaTauri, now RB, replacing Sergio Pérez.
Lawson’s mission is clear: support Verstappen without the pressure of outperforming a four-time world champion, stated Horner. Yet, if he manages to do so, “that would be fantastic.” With only 11 Grands Prix under his belt, it’s a big task, but Lawson has the potential and resolve to grow into the role.
Although it’s Lawson’s first full season, he doesn’t see himself as a rookie amidst other new talents like Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, and Andrea Antonelli, who bears the weight of being Hamilton’s successor at Mercedes.
Bearman had a taste of F1 last season, including filling in for Carlos Sainz during an emergency, and is keen to prove himself further with Haas in hopes of stepping into Hamilton’s shoes eventually. For now, Bearman is soaking in his rookie season, striving to learn and relish every moment of his dream.
Meanwhile, Hamilton, eager to embrace his inaugural season with Ferrari, already feels the positive vibes. “There’s magic here,” he said, enthused about the possibilities. Yet he acknowledges the hard work and the team’s collective dream of seeing Ferrari back on the championship podium.
