Lewis Hamilton is ready to start a contemporary chapter in his illustrious System 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. Nonetheless, his last 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 appears to depart these frustrations behind as he takes on the problem of driving for Ferrari, the game’s most storied group.
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, shedding to McLaren by simply 14 factors. But, because the season drew to an in depth, 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 group could have positioned itself for a aggressive edge in 2025, elevating questions on whether or not the Briton may finally remorse his choice.
Mercedes and McLaren could maintain a bonus going into the brand new season, due to 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 characteristic in 2024, giving them a definite edge over Ferrari and Crimson Bull. This innovation rendered Crimson Bull’s once-dominant aerodynamic designs out of date and contributed to their sudden lack of type.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 Crimson Bull have but to undertake this strategy, they may discover themselves trailing their rivals in 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 important progress with aero-elastic entrance wings, which grew to become the dominant technical characteristic of the season. He famous that this growth rendered Crimson Bull’s beforehand modern aerodynamics, together with their refined flooring design and intelligent suspension integration, virtually out of date. These parts had been key to Crimson 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 Crimson Bull selected to observe this strategy, probably placing them at an obstacle except they adapt relying on how the FIA regulates this space for 2025. He instructed will probably be intriguing to see if there’s a aggressive reset with all 4 groups adopting this know-how, quite than simply two. Hughes additionally acknowledged that Mercedes at the moment has a head begin over Ferrari and Crimson Bull on this space however nonetheless faces challenges in catching up in different technological points.
Can Lewis Hamilton face defeat by the hands of Mercedes in 2025?
Whereas Mercedes may maintain an edge over Ferrari with their modern entrance wing know-how heading into the 2025 season, as Mark Hughes highlighted, their general bundle nonetheless requires refinement. Consistency might be key if the Silver Arrows purpose to problem the Maranello squad and different frontrunners.
The group 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 System 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 group, setting the stage for a ready debut season. Nonetheless, the stress to ship sturdy outcomes proper out of the gate might be immense. The younger Italian’s readiness might be examined, as Mercedes can’t afford to falter additional within the extremely aggressive midfield.
George Russell is well-poised to tackle the function of group chief, having demonstrated his capabilities by outperforming Hamilton in qualifying and race battles all through 2024. His management might be crucial as Mercedes rebuilds and adapts to a post-Hamilton period.
Regardless of their technological advances, weaknesses in different areas of the automotive’s efficiency may hinder their progress. To persistently 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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