Nico Rosberg predicts that Lewis Hamilton will face a tough challenge against….read more
Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in the upcoming Formula 1 season, following Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes. Hamilton, who spent 12 seasons at Mercedes and won six of his seven world championships there, is now set to join Ferrari for the first time in his career. He will team up with Leclerc, who has proven himself as a formidable driver within the Italian team since his arrival in 2019, outshining former world champion Sebastian Vettel during their time together.
The debate surrounding who will be the dominant driver at Ferrari has sparked much discussion, with many speculating about the dynamic between Hamilton and Leclerc. Recent testing, including a Pirelli test, offered little insight into how the two drivers would stack up against each other, as the times were not fully indicative of their true pace.
Rosberg, Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate, believes that Hamilton will face an uphill battle at the start of the season, particularly against Leclerc, who is considered one of the best talents of the “next generation” of drivers, alongside George Russell. In an interview with Sky Sports at the end of the 2024 season, Rosberg stated that Leclerc is likely to have the edge initially, comparing him to Russell, who he views as a top-tier driver. Rosberg also acknowledged that Hamilton is struggling at the moment, though he wasn’t sure why. As a result, Rosberg suggested that Leclerc would outperform Hamilton early on in the season, similar to how Russell has managed to outperform Hamilton in recent times.
However, Rosberg, a 2016 world champion, was quick to give Hamilton the benefit of the doubt, emphasizing that the Briton is still widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time (GOAT) in F1. Rosberg pointed out that Hamilton’s true strength could come to the fore as the season progresses. He predicted that by the end of the year, Hamilton would have regained his form and potentially finished ahead of Leclerc in the standings, once he had fully adapted to the Ferrari car.
Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson also weighed in on the situation, agreeing with Rosberg’s sentiment that it will take Hamilton some time to adjust to his new team and car. Davidson highlighted the difficulty of switching teams and learning the intricacies of a new car, even for someone of Hamilton’s caliber. He stated that it would be intriguing to see how Hamilton adapts to Ferrari and whether he can quickly return to his usual dominant form.
The predictions from both Rosberg and Davidson suggest that while Hamilton might face challenges at the start of his time with Ferrari, his experience and reputation as one of the sport’s all-time greats could allow him to come out on top by the end of the 2025 season. The rivalry between Hamilton and Leclerc will be one of the most closely watched storylines in Formula 1 next year, as fans eagerly anticipate how the two drivers will fare against each other in the iconic red Ferrari cars.
