Tom Kristensen urges Lewis Hamilton not to make excuses at Ferrari
02/13/2025 03:43 PM
Excitement is building around Lewis Hamilton's highly anticipated switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season, especially after thousands of passionate fans gathered at the Fiorano circuit to witness his first-ever test in one of the Maranello team's cars.
Lewis Hamilton's pursuit of a record-breaking eighth world championship will now take place with one of Formula 1's most iconic and decorated teams. His shock decision to depart Mercedes—activating a break clause in his contract—sent waves through the paddock last year. Having secured five of his seven titles with the Silver Arrows between 2014 and 2020, Hamilton is eager to extend his already formidable career statistics, which include 105 Grand Prix victories, 202 podium finishes, and 104 pole positions.
However, the British driver has faced significant challenges since the introduction of ground-effect regulations and 18-inch wheels, managing only two race wins over the past three seasons. Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone remains skeptical about Hamilton's long-term prospects at Ferrari, suggesting that the complexities of Maranello's internal politics may prove too great an obstacle for him.
With the 2025 Formula 1 season set to kick off in Melbourne, Lewis Hamilton will be determined to make an immediate impact. However, legendary Le Mans champion Tom Kristensen has issued a warning about one particular habit he hopes the seven-time champion will leave behind when he joins Ferrari—a point he emphasized on the RacingNews365 podcast.
Tom Kristensen hopes Hamilton will avoid making excuses at Ferrari
During his final years at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton was often vocal about the team's struggles, frequently expressing frustration over unexpected handling issues—particularly following qualifying sessions, where car balance inconsistencies were a recurring complaint.
Tom Kristensen believes Ferrari's late-season competitiveness in 2024 has laid the foundation for a strong campaign in 2025. As a result, he hopes Lewis Hamilton will adopt a more positive approach and avoid dwelling too much on setbacks as he embarks on this new chapter with the Scuderia.
Tom Kristensen expressed his hope that Lewis Hamilton would steer clear of inconsistency, avoid troublesome qualifying positions, and not find himself repeatedly having to explain poor performances in front of the cameras. He added that witnessing those struggles had become difficult and suggested that the move to Ferrari was ultimately a positive change for both Hamilton and Mercedes.
What If Ferrari Fails to Deliver in 2025?
Ferrari's performance over the past few seasons has been unpredictable, swinging between moments of brilliance and frustrating shortcomings. After struggling through difficult campaigns in 2020 and 2021, the team managed to recover but has consistently fallen just short of producing a championship-winning car.
A turning point seemed to come last year when Ferrari introduced crucial upgrades to the SF-24 at Monza. The changes had an immediate impact, allowing Charles Leclerc to dominate their home Grand Prix with a convincing victory before mounting a strong challenge for the win in Azerbaijan.
Charles Leclerc delivered another commanding performance in Austin, while Carlos Sainz added to Ferrari's success with a victory in Mexico. The battle with McLaren in the Constructors' Championship was fiercely contested, with McLaren narrowly edging out Ferrari by just 14 points.
However, if Ferrari fails to be competitive in 2025 and proves incapable of regularly fighting for victories, it could raise serious questions about Hamilton's long-term commitment. In such a scenario, the seven-time world champion might consider cutting his tenure short and departing the team after just one season.
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