Rosberg predicts Ferrari SWAP after unusual Hamilton…read more
Nico Rosberg predicts a challenging start for Lewis Hamilton in his first season at Ferrari, where he will face a tough battle with Charles Leclerc. Hamilton, who previously won six of his seven world championships at Mercedes, has made the switch to Ferrari for the 2024 season. Leclerc, who has been with Ferrari since 2019, has consistently outperformed his former teammate, Sebastian Vettel, and is seen as one of the top talents in Formula 1.
The pairing of Hamilton and Leclerc has sparked considerable debate regarding who will come out on top within the team. However, a recent Pirelli test provided little indication of who might be faster, as the test times weren’t truly representative. Despite this, Rosberg, who was Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes, believes that Hamilton will struggle in the early stages of the season against the Monegasque driver, but he expects Hamilton to gradually gain the upper hand as the year progresses.
Rosberg, speaking on Sky Sports toward the end of the 2024 season, was asked to assess who he thought would be the better driver between the two. He remarked that, based on current form, Leclerc would have the edge. “If you take today, then definitely Charles,” Rosberg said. He explained that Leclerc is on a similar level to George Russell, who is seen as one of the best drivers of the next generation, just behind Max Verstappen. Rosberg added that Hamilton appeared to be struggling at the moment, though the reason for this was unclear. “As of today, Charles will beat him in the same way that George Russell is beating him,” Rosberg noted.
However, Rosberg did not discount Hamilton’s legendary status in the sport, stating that despite his current struggles, the seven-time world champion should still be given the benefit of the doubt. He emphasized Hamilton’s long track record of success, asserting that once the Briton adapts to his new team and car, he should return to his usual form and ultimately surpass Leclerc by the end of the season.
Anthony Davidson, also speaking about Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, shared a similar view, acknowledging the challenges a driver faces when switching teams. Even someone as experienced as Hamilton will need time to adjust to Ferrari’s car and its nuances. “It always will,” Davidson said when discussing how long it might take Hamilton to settle in. “Even if you are Lewis Hamilton, we all know how hard it is to change teams and cars.” Davidson expressed his curiosity about how Hamilton’s transition would unfold, adding that he was eager to see how things would play out for the British driver in 2024.
Despite these early challenges, both Rosberg and Davidson agreed that Hamilton’s potential to reclaim his former dominance was still very much in the cards, though it might take a little time.
