John Elkann promises to give Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton a winning car – Italian journalist
12/30/2024 02:20 PM
The 2025 Formula 1 season is just around the corner, and all teams are working at full capacity to prepare for the upcoming championship. Some glimpses of what's to come were seen during the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, where attention focused on drivers debuting with their new teams: Carlos Sainz at Williams, Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber, and Esteban Ocon at Haas. However, despite changing teams, Lewis Hamilton hasn't yet experienced Ferrari, which instead entrusted the car to Charles Leclerc (for tire tests) and reserve drivers Arthur Leclerc and Antonio Fuoco.
Lewis Hamilton absent… but present
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion was notably absent, not participating in the tests with either Mercedes or Ferrari, as he wasn't authorized to begin work with the Scuderia before his contract with Stuttgart expired. Thus, his debut in the red suit will come in 2025, when he is officially a Ferrari driver. Yet, even without being in the Ferrari garage, Sir Lewis is already a central topic within his new team, both for recent events and for discussions at the Scuderia's Christmas lunch, where the British driver was the focus of many questions directed at team principal Fred Vasseur.
Italian journalist and Ferrari insider Leo Turrini discussed “The Hammer’s” arrival in Italy on his blog “Profondo Rosso,” emphasizing that no driver with a comparable résumé has ever driven for Ferrari, and only one driver older than him (40 years in January) has ever won a title.
“On January 7, Hamilton will turn 40. Perhaps we need to start there […] to try to understand the expectations and fears surrounding his arrival at Maranello. […] Never before has a Ferrari driver come with credentials like his. […] Only once has a driver older than him won the championship in a Ferrari: Juan Manuel Fangio. […] Today, the grid is dominated by the PlayStation Generation. Verstappen is a legend, Norris and Piastri are lurking, and Bearman, Bortoleto, and Kimi Antonelli are on their way. […] And then there's Charles Leclerc, who is twelve years younger than his new teammate…”
Lewis, the ultimate challenge
Leo Turrini also pointed out that Lewis Hamilton will aim for the ultimate challenge: returning to success and clinching an eighth title, cementing his legacy with Ferrari, driven by his undiminished talent and a promise from chairman John Elkann to deliver success with two top-tier drivers.
“Lewis Hamilton won't stop without giving everything he has for the ultimate achievement: reaching eight titles. […] Ferrari at 40 is the final gamble, the ultimate act of poetic courage. Ferrari isn't in a better position either. […] The Lady in Red hasn't been in contention for a generation. […] Hamilton […] may be slightly less sharp in qualifying than he once was, but his talent remains intact, as does his physical condition. Add enormous motivation, and the cocktail is perfect. […] In January, he'll make his debut in a Ferrari […] he can't wait. […] After the deal was made official […] I had a chat with John Elkann. I told him: with drivers like Hamilton and Leclerc, you can't not give them a winning car. […] His response was a promise.” – the Italian journalist concluded.
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