Lewis Hamilton’s extremely anticipated transfer to Ferrari has sparked an unprecedented degree of pleasure on this planet of Method 1. Because the Australian Grand Prix approaches subsequent week, Hamilton will lastly make his long-awaited debut with the Scuderia.
The thrill surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s switch has been described as “unreal” by Karun Chandhok, and it’s already reaping rewards for Ferrari. His first Instagram publish donning Ferrari colours broke information, amassing an unbelievable 5.7 million likes. In response to estimates, Ferrari’s sponsors earned a staggering £767,000 from Lewis Hamilton’s photograph alone. Nevertheless, the star driver will certainly be hoping that this picture isn’t essentially the most iconic one to return from his time with the workforce.
Ferrari’s new workforce principal, Fred Vasseur, has confirmed that Hamilton has lengthy dreamed of becoming a member of Ferrari. This transfer is greater than only a dream come true for the British racing icon; it represents his critical pursuit of an eighth World Championship, a feat nobody in Method 1 historical past has ever achieved.
In 2003, Michael Schumacher broke Juan Manuel Fangio’s long-standing file by securing his sixth World Championship title, adopted by a seventh the next yr. Lewis Hamilton equaled Michael Schumacher’s achievement by claiming his sixth title in 2020. Nevertheless, after the bitter disappointment of 2021, Lewis Hamilton has struggled to search out the aggressive edge wanted to safe one other title. He now hopes Ferrari can present the chance to succeed the place Mercedes has fallen quick within the period of ground-effect aerodynamics. Regardless of this, questions are starting to come up in regards to the British driver’s future prospects as he nears the age of 40.
Ralf Schumacher, a six-time Method 1 race winner and lead pundit for Sky Germany, not too long ago forged doubt on Lewis Hamilton’s possibilities of profitable one other championship. In a latest interview with dpa, Ralf mentioned the challenges the Briton might face in 2025, calling into query the feasibility of the British driver’s title ambitions within the coming years.
He talked about that he had a sense Charles Leclerc could be the one to succeed if both of the Ferraris managed to take action. He added that when becoming a member of a brand new workforce, it usually takes six to eight months to totally adapt and benefit from the surroundings, no matter how shortly one feels comfy or what actions they take.
Throughout pre-season testing, Ralf Schumacher steered that Charles Leclerc might shortly get Lewis Hamilton “beneath management” if both of the Ferrari drivers had been to succeed. Whereas acknowledging that Hamilton stays “extremely quick,” he believes Leclerc might quickly problem the narrative that Hamilton shall be Method 1’s subsequent champion, probably dismantling the parable surrounding the British driver’s dominance.
Again in December, Schumacher even went as far as to query whether or not Hamilton would full his contract with Ferrari. The contract, initially set for 2 years with an possibility for a 3rd, might not be fulfilled in keeping with Schumacher’s speculations.
At this level, the German driver has made it clear that he doesn’t perceive the widespread pleasure surrounding Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari. He’s not anticipating a sudden, dramatic return to type for the Englishman within the iconic scarlet Ferrari, dismissing any notions of a Hollywood-style comeback.
Ralf Schumacher on Lewis Hamilton’s Legacy vs. Michael Schumacher
When discussing Hamilton’s place in Method 1 historical past, Schumacher has made it clear he doesn’t take into account the British driver the best of all time, regardless of Hamilton’s statistical success as essentially the most adorned F1 driver by way of titles. This attitude is considerably influenced by Schumacher’s circle of relatives ties to the game.
Schumacher firmly believes that the comparability between him and Hamilton shouldn’t be even shut, arguing that the British driver won’t ever come “wherever close to” the extent of dominance that Michael Schumacher achieved throughout his prime. The 2 champions loved comparable durations of dominance: Hamilton from 2014 to 2020, and Schumacher from 2000 to 2004.
Schumacher insists that Hamilton lacks the power to develop a automobile in the identical method Michael Schumacher did. This can be a crucial level that Hamilton will possible attempt to show flawed as he embarks on his journey with Ferrari.
Waiting for the 2025 season, McLaren is broadly anticipated to be the workforce to beat. Nevertheless, Ferrari’s new workforce principal, Fred Vasseur, will look to Hamilton’s insights and suggestions to assist propel the Scuderia ahead, aiming to shut the hole by strategic upgrades and efficiency enhancements.
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