Bernie Collins warns of key obstacle Lewis Hamilton must overcome in debut Ferrari season
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Lewis Hamilton's highly anticipated switch to Ferrari has been under intense scrutiny throughout the winter break as he prepares to make his debut with Formula 1's most iconic and historically successful team.
The Australian Grand Prix has already provided Hamilton with two victories in his illustrious career, and Ferrari's passionate fanbase would love nothing more than to see him add another triumph in the famous red overalls. However, the 2025 season could prove to be Hamilton's toughest challenge yet as he adapts to an entirely new environment at a time when competition is tighter than ever.
For several years, the performance gap between teams has been steadily closing, and with 2025 marking the final season under the current regulations, the top contenders are expected to be separated by mere hundredths of a second. This leaves Hamilton with little margin for error as he works to integrate himself into Ferrari's system and extract the most from their machinery.
Determined to hit the ground running, Hamilton has been conducting extensive testing at both Fiorano and Barcelona while also relying on Ferrari's state-of-the-art simulator to familiarize himself with the characteristics of their 2025 car. His preparation has even included an 'extreme' setup adjustment during a recent Pirelli tyre test—an experiment designed to offer insight into how next season's car might handle under different conditions.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Bernie Collins recently shared her thoughts on Hamilton's upcoming Ferrari debut during an episode of The Red Flags Podcast. While she expressed enthusiasm about seeing the seven-time World Champion in Scuderia red, she also highlighted several significant hurdles he will face. According to Collins, Hamilton's road back to winning ways will be anything but straightforward, as he must contend with unfamiliar car dynamics, a new team environment, and one of the most competitive grids in recent history.
When asked about Lewis Hamilton's move to the Maranello team, Bernie Collins remarked that it would be fascinating to follow. She emphasized that the challenge of the British driver transitioning to Ferrari should not be underestimated, noting that he had never driven a Ferrari-powered car before. According to her, even basic aspects such as engine operation, mode selection, energy harvesting, and power deployment would be entirely different from what he was accustomed to.
Bernie Collins pointed out that Ferrari uses distinct radio terminology and that Lewis Hamilton would need to adjust to new instinctive actions, such as where to press various buttons. She believed these differences in the car would present a significant challenge for him. However, she also suggested that he would likely enjoy and embrace the experience, as he tends to thrive when pushed to his limits.
Beyond the technical adjustments, Bernie Collins highlighted the cultural shift Lewis Hamilton would face, given Ferrari's unique operational style and completely new personnel and engineers. She questioned whether he would be able to maximize his qualifying performances to ensure he was well-positioned for strategic decisions on race day.
Additionally, Bernie Collins noted that Mercedes had long built its structure around Hamilton, whereas at Ferrari, he would no longer be at the center of the team. While she had not anticipated his move last year, she expressed excitement about seeing how the transition would unfold.
Hamilton's Qualifying Struggles Could Tip the Scales in Leclerc's Favor
As Bernie Collins highlights, Hamilton faces a steep learning curve at Ferrari, with limited time to adapt to an entirely new environment before the season begins.
Meanwhile, the Monegasque driver holds a significant advantage in familiarity, having spent years immersed in Ferrari's systems, procedures, and the unique intricacies of their Formula 1 machinery. This deep understanding has helped him develop into one of the grid's strongest qualifiers—an area where Lewis Hamilton has recently struggled.
Charles Leclerc's qualifying prowess could prove decisive, particularly given Lewis Hamilton's frequent complaints last season about his one-lap performance at Mercedes. If those issues persist into his Ferrari tenure, it could put him at a strategic disadvantage right from the start of each race weekend.
Ferrari's race-day strategy often revolves around the driver with superior track position, which means that if Leclerc consistently outqualifies Lewis Hamilton, team principal Frédéric Vasseur may have little choice but to favor the Monegasque driver in critical race scenarios.
While the British driver is unlikely to accept a secondary role, his ultimate goal at Ferrari is to claim a record-breaking eighth championship. However, before he can take on the rest of the grid, his biggest and most immediate challenge may be overcoming the teammate standing in his way.
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