Changing an in-form Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season and past represents a “threat.”
That is the attitude of Luca di Montezemolo, the previous Ferrari president who led the staff throughout a few of its most iconic eras, as hypothesis intensifies over the seven-time world champion’s extremely anticipated transfer to Maranello. Following the conclusion of the 2024 marketing campaign, which noticed 39-year-old Hamilton grappling with not solely an absence of aggressive efficiency but additionally questions round his motivation and self-belief, his upcoming partnership with Charles Leclerc has change into a serious speaking level on this planet of Formulation 1.
Purple Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko expressed enthusiasm for Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari in his newest column for *Velocity Week*. He famous that the British driver would face one of many hardest rivals in qualifying with Charles Leclerc as his teammate, however added that Hamilton may nonetheless carry out at a world-class stage in races if the automobile was aggressive. Helmut Marko additionally noticed that Lewis Hamilton’s motivation appeared restricted when driving an uncompetitive automobile, as seen throughout his time at Mercedes, suggesting that the seven-time champion wanted the reassurance of having the ability to combat for podiums and was unlikely to push exhausting for minor factors finishes.
Ex-Formulation 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya anticipates an adjustment section for Lewis Hamilton, throughout which Charles Leclerc might initially seem to carry the benefit: “However six or seven rounds in, if the automobile is aggressive, Lewis will win every thing. If Ferrari offers him a superb automobile, he can undoubtedly change into champion once more.” – the previous Williams driver just lately identified.
One other ex-Formulation 1 man, Marc Surer, defined in an interview for German web site formel1.de: “It will likely be fascinating. Advertising-wise it’s a large win for Ferrari. They may promote lots of automobiles due to him.”
Nevertheless, Italian businessman Luca di Montezemolo, who spent a long time intently related to the Italian model, believes the brand new partnership between Hamilton and Ferrari goes far past simply advertising and marketing: “Hamilton is a phenomenon like (Max) Verstappen,” he advised Rai Gr Parlamento radio. “His arrival at Ferrari is just not a advertising and marketing operation – he desires to finish his profession by profitable in crimson.” – the previous Ferrari chairman defined – “However the selection of Lewis on one hand is a threat since you take a champion who has received loads and who involves Ferrari to win, and then again there may be Leclerc who regardless of having good races has by no means received (a title) and the years go by. It will likely be a really fascinating 12 months for Ferrari, supplied that they handle to bridge the hole with McLaren to begin already aggressive from the primary race. There additionally should be readability of the administration throughout the staff,” the 77-year-old Italian continued, as reported by the Italian media.
On the identical time, Luca di Montezemolo identified the truth that he regrets the present state of affairs for Carlos Sainz, who leaves the Maranello staff and won’t get the prospect to problem for podiums or race wins no less than within the neat future: “In these years, Ferrari’s downside has not been linked to the drivers. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are robust.” – the Italian added.
Sky Deutschland commentator Sascha Roos expressed the view that Carlos Sainz had delivered the perfect season of his profession to date, attaining two race wins. Whereas acknowledging that Charles Leclerc was much more constant, Roos famous that Sainz and Leclerc shaped a powerful and efficient driver pairing at Ferrari. He steered that Ferrari would possibly come to remorse their choice to herald Lewis Hamilton, arguing that Sainz was not considerably inferior to Hamilton, if in any respect.
Roos additional speculated that Lewis Hamilton would require time to adapt to the Ferrari, probably lacking essential alternatives within the championship battle throughout that adjustment interval. He identified that, given the robust performances of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc towards the tip of the season and the minimal modifications anticipated to the automobile for 2025, Ferrari may discover themselves initially weakened with Hamilton. Roos additionally expressed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton having the ability to dominate Charles Leclerc over the course of the season.
Commenting on Carlos Sainz’s transfer to Williams, Roos described it as the perfect accessible possibility for the Spaniard, whereas predicting that Sainz may not stay there for lengthy. He hinted at the potential for a future change to Cadillac and even an sudden opening at Purple Bull.
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