Ferrari: the one thing Lewis Hamilton is expected to do differently compared to Michael Schumacher
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Lewis Hamilton is fully aware that comparisons to Michael Schumacher will be unavoidable when he joins Ferrari in 2025. As two of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, their legacies are often measured side by side. Hamilton has made the decision to move to the Scuderia because he believes it offers him the best opportunity to secure a record-breaking eighth world championship, allowing him to surpass Michael Schumacher before he retires. The 39-year-old has already surpassed the German in terms of race wins (105 to 91) and pole positions (104 to 68), but many will only consider him the undisputed greatest of all time if he clinches another title.
Schumacher, of course, won five of his seven championships with Ferrari, but his career trajectory with the team was different from Hamilton’s. When the German driver joined Ferrari in 1996, he was 27 years old, still in the prime of his career. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, will be 39 when he begins his new chapter with the team, making his window of opportunity to achieve his ultimate goal relatively narrow. Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari's team principal, has offered the British driver a two-year contract with an option for a third season, but this may very well be the only deal Lewis Hamilton signs during his tenure at Maranello.
While Ferrari has come close to winning the Constructors’ Championship in recent years, Lewis Hamilton is optimistic that the team will find the right formula to capitalize on the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulation changes, which are expected to be pivotal in shaping the future of Formula 1.
As part of his move to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton is planning to relocate to Italy. Reports earlier this year suggested that he would stay in Enzo Ferrari’s former residence near the Fiorano test track, a privilege previously enjoyed by Michael Schumacher. However, it is more likely that Lewis Hamilton will use Enzo Ferrari's house as a base when he's on-site at Maranello. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton is expected to acquire a property in Italy, likely in Milan, which is situated around 120 miles from Ferrari’s headquarters. It remains unclear whether the seven-time Formula 1 world champion will sell his Monaco residence, where many F1 drivers live, but the move to Italy marks an important step in his immersion with Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton's teammate, has been deeply embedded in the Ferrari team since 2016 and made his debut in 2019. Charles Leclerc’s familiarity with the team will likely present a challenge to the British driver as he adjusts to his new environment. As part of his transition, Lewis Hamilton has already begun learning Italian, which will help him communicate more effectively with his mechanics and also forge a stronger connection with Ferrari's passionate fanbase, the Tifosi. Rwandan and Belgian racing driver and television presenter Naomi Schiff has suggested that Charles Leclerc's fluency in Italian could make Lewis Hamilton feel "paranoid" during team meetings, a challenge Lewis Hamilton is prepared to embrace.
During his time at Ferrari, Michael Schumacher lived in Vufflens-le-Château, a municipality near the Swiss city of Geneva, where he stayed with his family. His decision to remain in Switzerland was influenced by personal factors, including the birth of his children. Similarly, Lewis Hamilton's move to Italy reflects both professional and personal considerations as he prepares for the next phase of his illustrious career.
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