Lewis Hamilton primed to forge a glorious new hammer time at Ferrari
As the highly anticipated 2025 Formula One season prepares to kick off in Melbourne, all eyes are on Lewis Hamilton, the sport’s most successful driver, who has made a blockbuster move to Ferrari, the sport’s most successful team. Hamilton, now 40 years old and with seven titles under his belt, has nothing to prove, but he is driven to secure the greatest achievement in his career – winning a record-breaking eighth title with Ferrari.
Hamilton’s journey to Ferrari began as a child, playing video games as Michael Schumacher and dreaming of driving for the Scuderia. He spent 12 years with Mercedes, claiming six championships with the team, but he has always defied expectation, and his move to Ferrari has rejuvenated him. He is a driver renewed, still in top physical form, psychologically strong, and motivated to drive on for years to come.
Hamilton has thrown himself into his new challenge with abandon, and his pleasure in wearing the iconic Ferrari red is palpable. He has described the moment he first saw himself in his new Ferrari race suit as a defining moment, and he barely slept the night before his first test run in a Ferrari at Fiorano.
During pre-season testing, Hamilton took his motorhome to Maranello and parked it outside Enzo Ferrari’s former office, avoiding unnecessary travel time and immersing himself in the team’s culture. He walked the length and breadth of the vast facility, shaking hands with every one of the 1,500 staff members and inviting his engineers to dinner at his temporary home.
Hamilton’s chances of winning the title look better than ever, with Ferrari finishing second to McLaren by just 14 points last season. The SF25, an evolution of last year’s car, should suit Hamilton’s driving style better than the Mercedes, and he will be paired with a formidable teammate in Charles Leclerc.
However, Hamilton’s success is not solely dependent on his own abilities. Ferrari’s new team principal, Fred Vasseur, has brought a sense of direction and stability to the team, and the addition of former Mercedes designer Loïc Serra and deputy principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio has strengthened the team’s technical department.
As the season prepares to get underway, Hamilton stands center stage, but he is not the only player vying for attention. McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull will all be contenders, and the battle for supremacy promises to be one of the most closely fought in years.
McLaren, in particular, looks strong, with their car appearing to be the quickest in testing. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have played down their advantage, but it’s hard to ignore the quiet satisfaction behind their poker faces.
Mercedes, meanwhile, is optimistic that they have delivered a more predictable and stable car than last season, and Red Bull will be expecting to vie for the lead from the off, despite some work to do to solve the balance and understeer issues that plagued them last season.
With all four teams considered contenders, the 2025 season promises to be a thrilling ride, and if Hamilton is among the leaders, Melbourne will be just the beginning of an epic battle for supremacy.
