Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Hamilton’s 2025 title hopes with Ferrari are unrealistic, tipping Leclerc as the team’s best bet.
It is “highly unrealistic” to expect Lewis Hamilton to win the title for Ferrari in his very first season with the iconic team.
That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who believes Ferrari’s incumbent Charles Leclerc is the man in red to bet on in 2025.
“I don’t know why, but I have the feeling that if anyone can do it with a Ferrari, it will be Charles Leclerc,” the German told the DPA news agency.
At 40, seven-time world champion Hamilton is now the second-oldest driver on the grid, but Schumacher argues there is a more important reason why the Briton has little chance of winning the championship this year.
“When you join a new team, it takes at least six to eight months to really make full use of the entire environment and get to know each other, no matter how quickly you feel comfortable and no matter what you do.”
“At least, that’s what I experienced.”
Leclerc admitted that the SF-25 “struggled to find balance” on the second and third days in Bahrain last week.
“McLaren seems to have a very strong car,” the Monegasque acknowledged, “but it’s too early to say more. We need to focus on ourselves.”
Will 2025 be the year of the Prancing Horse?
“The car needs to be at the right level this year. In recent seasons, we’ve had moments where things didn’t go so well. I have 300% confidence in Fred Vasseur. He’s the right person—we’ll see if it’s the right year, but we’ll do everything to make it happen.”
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Leclerc or Hamilton? Ralf Doubts Ferrari Title for Lewis Leclerc or Hamilton? Ralf Doubts Ferrari Title for Lewis Leclerc or Hamilton? Ralf Doubts Ferrari Title for Lewis
