Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for 2025 F1 has stirred considerable debate and speculation amid the team’s performance struggles.
Lewis Hamilton’s recent announcement to join Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season has ignited a firestorm of speculation and debate within the motorsport community.
As one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport, the Brit’s decision to leave Mercedes—a team with which he has enjoyed unprecedented success—raises critical questions about both his motivations and the implications for the Scuderia, a team that has struggled to reclaim its former glory in recent years.
However, the switch is not merely a change of scenery; it is a bold statement about his ambitions and the challenges he seeks.
After more than a decade with Mercedes, where he secured six of his seven world championships, Hamilton’s decision to activate a release clause in his contract surprised many. He described the choice as one of the hardest of his career, emphasizing his respect for the team as well as team principal Toto Wolff.
“I have so much gratitude for what we have achieved together, but I feel it’s time for a new challenge,” Hamilton stated.
Ferrari, with its illustrious history and passionate fanbase, represents an opportunity for Hamilton to fulfill a childhood dream.
However, it also poses significant challenges particularly given the Maranello outfit has not won a drivers’ championship since Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007, and their recent performances have been inconsistent, often falling short against the dominant Red Bull Racing.
Ferrari’s performance struggles in recent seasons are well-documented. Despite having talented drivers like Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the team has frequently faced strategic missteps, reliability issues, and a lack of pace compared to their rivals. In 2023, the team found itself in a battle for third place in the Constructors’ Championship, far removed from the title contention they once enjoyed.
For the first eight rounds of the current season, Hamilton appeared to have made the right decision to join Ferrari given its two race wins, trailing Red Bull by 23 points in the Constructors’ Championship. However, Charles Leclerc’s victory at the Monaco Grand Prix marked not only the team’s last victory—some may even say that it was their final strong performance—but it was also their last podium finish.
Meanwhile, Mercedes unveiled their new flexi wing that weekend and proceeded to claim a six-race podium streak ever since, with three of those coming from race wins. This could have been the epiphany moment or simply the last piece in the puzzle that put the W15 together.
While Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello could be seen as a potential game-changer considering his wealth of experience, coupled with a relentless drive for success which might provide the spark Ferrari needs to turn its fortunes around.
But, the question remains: can the 39-year old, at this stage of his career, lead a team that has struggled to compete at the highest level?
“I can’t say,” Marko told OE24. “That will be exciting.”
The departure of Enrico Cardile, who left Ferrari to join Aston Martin, has complicated Ferrari’s attempts to keep up with their main rivals as Adrian Newey, who the Scuderia was pursuing to replace Cardile, is also linked to a potential move to the mid-field team.
“Ferrari has lost an important man in chassis boss Cardile,” Marko continued. “Let’s wait and see what happens with Adrian Newey (the outgoing designer of all Red Bull world champion cars, ed.).
“He has some top offers, including from England, and can decide where he goes.”
Meanwhile, Aston Martin responded to the Newey update, issuing a coy statement which read: “The Aston Martin Aramco F1 team is a very appealing project with Lawrence Stroll’s vision, a state of the art new Technology Campus and exciting partnerships with Aramco and Honda.
“Many high-profile individuals across all areas of the team are linked to the project but we don’t have anything to announce.”
However, there might be better news on the horizon for Hamilton. Motorsport Italy reports Ferrari are in negotiations with ex-Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott, who parted ways with the Silver Arrows last October.
