Ferrari Poised for Titles Amid Hamilton Risk

Luca di Montezemolo hails Hamilton’s talent but warns of risks, as Ferrari gears up for a championship comeback with strong potential.

Replacing Carlos Sainz, currently in top form, with Lewis Hamilton for 2025 and beyond is indeed “a risk.”

This perspective is shared by Luca di Montezemolo, former long-time president of Ferrari, aligning with recent opinions from several commentators, including Ralf Schumacher.

As anticipation builds ahead of the expected move of the seven-time world champion Hamilton to Maranello, following the conclusion of the 2024 season, his pairing with Charles Leclerc has become a major topic of debate within F1 circles.

“We can be excited about Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari,” admits Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor.

“He will face one of the strongest rivals in qualifying with Charles Leclerc. But in races, he can still deliver world-class performances if the car is competitive. However, we’ve also seen at Mercedes that his motivation wanes if the car isn’t strong. He needs to know he can fight for podiums. He’s unlikely to push hard for a tenth-place finish.”

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya predicts an adjustment period for Hamilton, during which Leclerc “will have the upper hand.”

“But after six or seven races, if the car is competitive, Lewis will win everything. If Ferrari provides him with a good car, he can definitely become champion again.”

However, Luca di Montezemolo, deeply involved with the Italian brand for several decades, believes the Hamilton-Ferrari partnership is far more than a marketing move.

“Hamilton is a phenomenon like Max Verstappen. His move to Ferrari is not a marketing operation – he wants to finish his career winning in red.”

“But choosing Lewis is, on one hand, a risk because you’re bringing in a champion who has won so much and comes to Ferrari to win, while on the other hand, there’s Leclerc, who despite strong performances has never won a title, and the years are passing.”

“It will be a very interesting year for Ferrari, provided they can close the gap to McLaren and start the first race competitively. The team’s management also needs to be clear.”

Montezemolo also acknowledges the disappointment of Carlos Sainz losing his seat.

“In recent years, Ferrari’s issue wasn’t the drivers. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were strong both individually and as a duo.”