Lewis Hamilton’s extremely anticipated transfer to Ferrari has sparked an unprecedented degree of pleasure on this planet of Formulation 1. Because the Australian Grand Prix approaches subsequent week, Hamilton will lastly make his long-awaited debut with the Scuderia.
The joy surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s switch has been described as “unreal” by Karun Chandhok, and it’s already reaping rewards for Ferrari. His first Instagram submit donning Ferrari colours broke information, amassing an unbelievable 5.7 million likes. In accordance with estimates, Ferrari’s sponsors earned a staggering £767,000 from Lewis Hamilton’s photograph alone. Nevertheless, the star driver will certainly be hoping that this picture isn’t probably the most iconic one to come back from his time with the group.
Ferrari’s new group principal, Fred Vasseur, has confirmed that Hamilton has lengthy dreamed of becoming a member of Ferrari. This transfer is greater than only a dream come true for the British racing icon; it represents his severe pursuit of an eighth World Championship, a feat nobody in Formulation 1 historical past has ever achieved.
In 2003, Michael Schumacher broke Juan Manuel Fangio’s long-standing document by securing his sixth World Championship title, adopted by a seventh the next yr. Lewis Hamilton equaled Michael Schumacher’s achievement by claiming his sixth title in 2020. Nevertheless, after the bitter disappointment of 2021, Lewis Hamilton has struggled to seek out the aggressive edge wanted to safe one other title. He now hopes Ferrari can present the chance to succeed the place Mercedes has fallen brief within the period of ground-effect aerodynamics. Regardless of this, questions are starting to come up concerning the British driver’s future prospects as he nears the age of 40.
Ralf Schumacher, a six-time Formulation 1 race winner and lead pundit for Sky Germany, not too long ago solid doubt on Lewis Hamilton’s possibilities of successful one other championship. In a current interview with dpa, Ralf mentioned the challenges the Briton could face in 2025, calling into query the feasibility of the British driver’s title ambitions within the coming years.
He talked about that he had a sense Charles Leclerc can be the one to succeed if both of the Ferraris managed to take action. He added that when becoming a member of a brand new group, it sometimes takes six to eight months to completely adapt and benefit from the setting, no matter how shortly one feels snug or what actions they take.
Throughout pre-season testing, Ralf Schumacher recommended that Charles Leclerc may shortly get Lewis Hamilton “underneath management” if both of the Ferrari drivers have been to succeed. Whereas acknowledging that Hamilton stays “extremely quick,” he believes Leclerc may quickly problem the narrative that Hamilton shall be Formulation 1’s subsequent champion, probably dismantling the parable surrounding the British driver’s dominance.
Again in December, Schumacher even went as far as to query whether or not Hamilton would full his contract with Ferrari. The contract, initially set for 2 years with an possibility for a 3rd, might not be fulfilled in response to Schumacher’s speculations.
At this level, the German driver has made it clear that he doesn’t perceive the widespread pleasure surrounding Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari. He’s not anticipating a sudden, dramatic return to type for the Englishman within the iconic scarlet Ferrari, dismissing any notions of a Hollywood-style comeback.
Ralf Schumacher on Lewis Hamilton’s Legacy vs. Michael Schumacher
When discussing Hamilton’s place in Formulation 1 historical past, Schumacher has made it clear he doesn’t think about the British driver the best of all time, regardless of Hamilton’s statistical success as probably the most embellished F1 driver by way of titles. This angle is considerably influenced by Schumacher’s family ties to the game.
Schumacher firmly believes that the comparability between him and Hamilton just isn’t even shut, arguing that the British driver won’t ever come “wherever close to” the extent of dominance that Michael Schumacher achieved throughout his prime. The 2 champions loved comparable intervals of dominance: Hamilton from 2014 to 2020, and Schumacher from 2000 to 2004.
Schumacher insists that Hamilton lacks the flexibility to develop a automobile in the identical manner Michael Schumacher did. This can be a essential level that Hamilton will seemingly attempt to show fallacious as he embarks on his journey with Ferrari.
Looking forward to the 2025 season, McLaren is extensively anticipated to be the group to beat. Nevertheless, Ferrari’s new group principal, Fred Vasseur, will look to Hamilton’s insights and suggestions to assist propel the Scuderia ahead, aiming to shut the hole by way of strategic upgrades and efficiency enhancements.
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