Hamilton reveals McLaren and Red Bull expectations for F1 title fight
As the 2025 Formula 1 season prepares to kick off in Melbourne, Lewis Hamilton has shared his thoughts on what he expects from Ferrari’s championship rivals. The seven-time F1 drivers’ champion is set to make his debut with the iconic Italian team, and all eyes will be on the 40-year-old as he chases a record-breaking eighth title.
Hamilton’s expectations for the season are tempered by the knowledge that McLaren and Red Bull will be strong contenders. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the teams’ performances after pre-season testing, Hamilton is wary of underestimating his rivals.
“McLaren did a great run, and I think also Max [Verstappen] did a decent one, even with the temperatures [on the final morning of testing],” Hamilton noted in an interview with media, including RacingNews365. “It’s hard to know what fuel loads everyone is running, as we’re all doing our own programmes, so you have to take everything with a pinch of salt.”
Hamilton’s caution is well-founded, given the unpredictable nature of pre-season testing. However, he is clear about his expectations for McLaren and Red Bull, both of whom are expected to be strong contenders for the championship.
“They [McLaren] won the constructors’ last year,” Hamilton pointed out. “We expect them to be one of the quickest, if not the quickest, as with Red Bull, who dominated for many, many years.”
While Ferrari remains one of the biggest unknowns after pre-season testing, Hamilton is grateful for the opportunity to get accustomed to his new team through the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme. The programme allowed Hamilton to test previous Ferrari cars, giving him valuable experience and helping him to feel more comfortable with the team.
“Still, I’m not a fan of testing, but I’ve really enjoyed the testing that I’ve had this year,” Hamilton said. “I mean, I’m super grateful for the TPC testing that I got to do. If I only had this day and a half [of F1 pre-season testing], I definitely wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now, in terms of how comfortable I feel with the car.”
As the winter break comes to an end, Hamilton is eager to get racing and see how Ferrari’s preparations translate to on-track performance. With the Australian Grand Prix just around the corner, Hamilton is focused on making a strong start to the season and laying the foundations for a successful championship campaign.
“There’s still some ways to go, but at this point, I’m just excited to get racing,” Hamilton said, his enthusiasm palpable as he looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that the 2025 F1 season will bring.
