Hamilton’s Final Season with Mercedes Sets the Stage for a Strong Ferrari…read more
As Lewis Hamilton prepared for the 2024 Formula 1 season, he knew it would be his last with Mercedes, the team where he claimed six of his seven World Championships and set remarkable records, including 105 race wins, 104 pole positions, and 202 podium finishes. With a multi-year deal already in place with Ferrari for 2025, Hamilton was set for a monumental career shift.
However, his farewell season with Mercedes was far from perfect. Despite some triumphant moments — notably winning his home race at Silverstone and following that up with a second victory at Spa — Hamilton struggled in qualifying against his team-mate, George Russell. Over the course of the season, Hamilton was outqualified 19-5, raising questions about his form and leading some to wonder if Ferrari had made a mistake in letting Carlos Sainz go to make room for the seven-time World Champion.
Hamilton himself admitted to feeling disheartened at times, even confessing that after a disappointing Brazilian Grand Prix, he considered leaving Mercedes on the spot. His harsh self-criticism, such as describing himself as “definitely not fast anymore” after the Qatar Grand Prix, fueled speculation about his competitiveness. But despite these concerns, former F1 driver and commentator Anthony Davidson believes Hamilton’s 2024 performance could provide a solid foundation for his Ferrari debut.
Speaking to RacingNews365, Davidson pointed out that the Mercedes and Ferrari cars were closely matched throughout 2024, with Ferrari perhaps having a slight advantage. He suggested that if Hamilton could replicate his Mercedes form in his first year at Ferrari, it would be a respectable start — though both Hamilton and his fans would likely want more. Davidson emphasized that switching teams is never easy, and a season of consistency and adaptation would set Hamilton up well for success with the Scuderia.
One of the biggest challenges Hamilton will face at Ferrari is the intra-team battle with Charles Leclerc, who is widely regarded as one of the fastest drivers over a single lap. Qualifying performances will be under intense scrutiny, but Davidson expressed confidence that Hamilton’s race craft and tyre management skills would allow him to match or even outperform Leclerc on Sundays, when points are won.
Ferrari team boss Frédéric Vasseur has echoed this sentiment, repeatedly stressing that race-day performance is what truly matters. When questioned about Hamilton’s struggles in 2024, Vasseur was quick to dismiss concerns, pointing to Hamilton’s impressive recovery drives, such as his P2 finish in Las Vegas after qualifying only 10th.
Vasseur noted that while Ferrari had been strong in qualifying in recent years, they needed to prioritize race pace — an area where Hamilton has always excelled. As the team focuses on maintaining its upward trajectory, Vasseur expressed confidence that Hamilton’s vast experience and race management skills would make him a valuable asset, reinforcing the belief that Ferrari made the right call in signing him.
In the end, Hamilton’s ability to overcome adversity and extract the most from his car on race day could be the key to turning his first Ferrari season into a success — and possibly a launching pad for an eighth World Championship.
