Why Mika Hakkinen believes Lewis Hamilton risks treading a dangerous path in Ferrari

01/04/2025 05:50 AM

Lewis Hamilton’s year with Ferrari
The year that has just begun marks the sensational on-track union between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, two worlds that have looked at each other with respect and admiration for nearly two decades before realizing they were in love.

Whether it will prove to be a successful venture remains to be seen: Sir Lewis enjoys the full trust of President John Elkann and Team Principal Frederic Vasseur. While some fans have already voiced criticism over a few lackluster performances in 2024, others have come to the defense of the seven-time world champion. Lewis Hamilton, after all, is the most successful driver in history, has little left to prove, and has faced top-tier teammates (just think of Fernando Alonso in 2007).

“When he has the car, he always delivers excellent races”: with these words, Frederic Vasseur reiterated that Lewis Hamilton’s performance is not a concern. Nor should his age be: Sir Lewis—turning 40 in four days—still feels at the peak of his form. However, not everyone shares this view, as is the case with Mika Hakkinen.

Mika Hakkinen’s comments
According to the 1998 and 1999 world champion, Hamilton might be heading down a path already “walked” in 2001, when Mika Hakkinen (in his final F1 season) scored little more than half the points of his teammate David Coulthard. “We drivers know how this sport works; teams don’t like it when you lose consistency. But it’s hard to tell yourself: ‘It’s over.’ Lewis has won many championships, and I can imagine what a driver like him feels,” Mika Hakkinen told RacingNews365. “Of course, he feels very strong and confident in himself. He thinks he can do it, but if he lost that self-awareness, it would be hard to recover. Will the situation change suddenly next year? Speaking from personal experience, it will be difficult.” – the two-time Formula 1 world champion concluded.

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