Can Lewis Hamilton Win in a Ferrari?

Lewis Hamilton is chasing a record-breaking eighth title, and he’s doing it in a Ferrari. This is not a sentence that anyone would have expected to read after Hamilton’s legendary run with Mercedes, but here we are.

Ferrari’s been showing real promise lately, especially after their impressive 2024 season, where they pushed hard for the constructors’ championship. Under Fred Vasseur’s leadership, the Scuderia seems to have finally gotten their act together, ditching the strategy blunders that used to make fans facepalm every other weekend.

Hamilton is joining forces with Charles Leclerc, one of F1’s fastest young guns, in the pressure cooker that is Ferrari, where even legends have crumbled under that famous red weight. The pieces are there: Hamilton’s experience, Ferrari’s resurgence, and Vasseur’s steady hand at the wheel. However, in F1, potential doesn’t always translate to success. The 2025 season is upon us, and one question burns brighter than ever: Can Lewis Hamilton win the 8th championship to elevate him to the F1 GOAT Drivers and potentially put Ferrari back on top of the Manufacturers for the first time since 2008?

Why did Hamilton switch teams?

After more than a decade of dominance with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision – it was a calculated gamble from a champion running out of time. Two years without a single win have taken their toll, and Mercedes’ struggles to catch Red Bull have clearly worn thin on the seven-time world champion.

The writing was on the wall during contract talks with Mercedes. While Hamilton pushed for a three-year commitment, the Silver Arrows would only put one year on the table. Enter Ferrari, with a multi-year deal and a compelling vision for the future. The Italian team’s recent upswing under Fred Vasseur’s leadership didn’t hurt either – and there’s something special about that Vasseur connection, as the pair have a relationship that goes back to Hamilton’s junior racing days.

Politics and performance aside, Ferrari represents unfinished business – both Hamilton’s own dream and that of his childhood hero, Ayrton Senna, who never got his chance in red. At 39, Hamilton’s betting he can do what generations of drivers couldn’t: bring the championship back to Maranello, a high-stakes gamble reminiscent of the one he took when Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013. The only three drivers to win a championship in their 40s were Fangio, Brabham and Hill. It’s a rare feat, but Hamilton is a rare athlete.

A mix of opportunity and challenge

At Ferrari, Hamilton is pursuing that record-breaking eighth championship title that slipped through his fingers in 2021. If he succeeds, he’ll surpass Schumacher’s record and join the legendary Fangio as only the second driver to win championships with three different teams.

To do this, he’ll need to build a strong relationship with his new race engineer, likely to be Riccardo Adami, after years of success with Pete “Bono” Bonnington. The internal dynamic with Charles Leclerc, a formidable teammate who’s deeply embedded in Ferrari’s culture and known for his blistering qualifying pace, will also be a significant factor.

The competition beyond Ferrari looks fierce too. McLaren, coming off their strong 2024 season, and Lando Norris are looking particularly threatening, while Max Verstappen remains a problematic rival.

Why we think Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari makes perfect sense

After two challenging years at Mercedes, where the team has struggled to recapture its former glory, Hamilton’s decision reflects strategic thinking and emotional resonance for these reasons (in our humble opinion):

1. Since that controversial night in Abu Dhabi in 2021, where his eighth championship slipped away, Hamilton’s time at Mercedes has felt somewhat like a chapter waiting to end. With Red Bull and Verstappen’s current dominance showing no signs of weakening, Hamilton’s chances of securing that record-breaking title aren’t necessarily better at any team – so why not Ferrari?
2. There’s something liberating about having nothing to lose. At this stage in his career, Hamilton isn’t just making a move for performance reasons – he’s writing the final chapters of his legacy. Ferrari is one of motorsport’s most storied brands, a team that every driver dreams of racing for at least once in their career.
3. The timing feels right as Mercedes’ recent struggles have shown that even the mightiest teams can fall from grace, and Hamilton’s partnership with the team, while historic, had perhaps run its natural course. At Ferrari, he gets a fresh start, a new challenge, and, most importantly, the chance to write one final remarkable chapter in his already legendary career.

Ferrari heads into 2025 with more than just a new star driver

Another major plot point for Ferrari this season is the fact that they are bringing a completely revamped car to the fight. The SF-25 represents their boldest statement of intent in years, with technical director Loic Serra claiming it’s 99% different from its predecessor. The most visible change is the switch from pushrod to pullrod front suspension to maximise aerodynamic performance.

There are some massive rule changes looming for 2026, which makes the timing of this overhaul fascinating. Ferrari’s gone all-in, believing the early races could make or break the championship. Team boss Fred Vasseur knows that once summer hits, everyone’s attention will inevitably drift toward 2026’s regulations.

Charles Leclerc also remains central to Ferrari’s plans despite the Hamilton headlines. After coming agonisingly close to the constructors’ title last year – losing to McLaren by mere hundredths of a second per lap – Ferrari’s learned some hard lessons about reliability and consistent development. The question now isn’t just whether Hamilton can adapt to his new Italian home but whether Ferrari’s radical redesign will deliver the performance needed for its two very talented drivers to fight at the front.

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