Ferrari: why Lewis Hamilton is set to emulate Michael Schumacher, not Fernando Alonso, in 2025 F1 campaign

01/02/2025 04:51 PM

In 2025, Lewis Hamilton will make a monumental shift, leaving Mercedes for Ferrari on a multi-year deal, trading his familiar silver for the iconic red.

The 39-year-old revealed this surprising move in February, even before getting behind the wheel of Mercedes' W15 for the 2024 season. Hamilton has long expressed his frustration with Mercedes' struggles in the ground-effect era, as the team has failed to provide him with a competitive car capable of consistently challenging for titles.

His switch to Ferrari marks the beginning of a fresh challenge for Hamilton, potentially his final chapter in Formula 1. The move comes at a pivotal moment, with new technical regulations set to come into play in 2026, and Hamilton's experience may provide an advantage. Ferrari could use his time in the simulator to familiarize him with the updated car specifications ahead of the new regulations, potentially turning his struggles at Mercedes into an asset.

However, the question looms large: will Hamilton find success at Ferrari, or will he join the ranks of other illustrious drivers who fell short of winning a world championship with the team?

Hamilton will undoubtedly be aiming for a record-breaking eighth title to surpass Michael Schumacher's achievements. By joining Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton enters a prestigious group of legendary drivers who have donned the Maranello red, including Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, and Kimi Raikkonen. Michael Schumacher, who moved to the Italian side in 1996 after two world titles with Benetton, became the team's most successful driver, claiming 72 victories and five consecutive championships from 2000 to 2004.

Although Schumacher's record stood for many years as the benchmark for F1 success, Hamilton surpassed it to become the sport's most successful driver, matching Schumacher's seven titles in 2020. Now, the British driver is hoping to secure that elusive eighth title with Ferrari after falling short with Mercedes. But while the comparisons to Schumacher are inevitable, some wonder whether Hamilton can replicate the German’s success at Maranello.

Ralf Schumacher has commented that his brother's legacy in Ferrari is light years ahead of Lewis Hamilton's prospects, and while it’s unlikely Hamilton will match Schumacher's race wins at Ferrari, he still stands a solid chance of competing for titles. In fact, Ferrari's unexpected success with their 2025 update in Qatar has boosted Hamilton's confidence heading into next season, as the team appears to have a package capable of competing with Red Bull and matching McLaren's performance.

This move to Ferrari offers Lewis Hamilton a remarkable opportunity to further cement his legacy, with 2025 potentially being his best shot at securing another world championship.

However, while Lewis Hamilton enters a team with a rich history of success, there is an undeniable pressure to succeed and avoid the fate of other world champions who failed to clinch a title with Ferrari. Fernando Alonso's tenure at Ferrari serves as a cautionary tale. After joining the team from Renault in 2010, Fernando Alonso spent five seasons fighting for the championship, only to fall short in both 2010 and 2012, finishing as runner-up to Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull in both years.

Sebastian Vettel also experienced similar disappointment during his time at the Maranello team from 2015 to 2020, unable to capture a title despite coming close on several occasions. This shadow of failure hangs over Lewis Hamilton as he embarks on his own Ferrari journey, as he will certainly hope to avoid joining the ranks of those who couldn't achieve glory with the famed team.

While Ferrari has shown potential for success in the upcoming seasons, the team's inconsistencies—such as poor strategy calls and car setup issues—remain a concern. Hamilton's own recent struggles with Mercedes only add to the uncertainty surrounding his ability to succeed at Ferrari. However, a fresh start in a new environment could provide the confidence boost the British driver’s needs to succeed. If anyone has the talent to replicate Schumacher's success at Maranello, it's Lewis Hamilton. But as history has shown, even the best drivers can struggle at Ferrari, and the seven-time F1 world champion’s legacy could either be enhanced or tarnished depending on his performance in the coming F1 campaigns.

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