To say that Lewis Hamilton has had an extraordinary career so far is putting it lightly. Despite having a tumultuous few seasons going head-to-head with Max Verstappen – who is primed and ready to claim another world title with just a few races left in the current season – Hamilton is inarguably the most successful British F1 driver of all time.
In fact, he’s in contention to be considered the best ever worldwide. Despite a new generation of drivers having entered the grid in recent years, he’s still holding strong. Some pundits suggest that his retirement might be on the horizon – but his surprise switch to Ferrari signals that he’s not ready to hang up his helmet just yet.
This begs the question, can Lewis Hamilton claim his landmark eighth Drivers’ Championship with the prancing horse next season?
New Team, New Hope?
BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari in 2025!#F1 @LewisHamilton @ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/M5QrB5pM8G
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 1, 2024
Hamilton’s hopes of claiming an eighth championship title – which will put him ahead of Michael Schumacher in the all-time standings – are limited by time. For all that, he’s still pulling in good performances across the calendar, he turns 40 in January – meaning that retirement may be approaching.
Many of his fans are holding out to see if odds on Hamilton at Ferrari will shorten when 2025’s racing calendar is announced – there’s every chance that it could be a match made in heaven.
Despite most eyes having been on Verstappen and Lando Norris over the 2024 season, Hamilton has rediscovered some race-winning form this season, having won at Silverstone and been handed the victory at Spa after teammate George Russell’s disqualification.
Hamilton’s amazing world championship streak between 2014 and 2020 was broken for one year only – in 2016 – and he has an acumen that Ferrari is understandably keen to get behind.
Completely New Horizons
The 2025 season will mark Lewis Hamilton’s 18th in the sport, and so far, he has only ever driven for two teams – McLaren, which gave the star his start, and Mercedes, where he has been a firm fixture since 2013.
However, since the championship streak was broken in 2021, it’s clear that something needed to change. The rise of Max Verstappen has been nothing short of meteoric – meaning that Hamilton is likely looking to take measured risks if he stands a chance of surpassing Schumacher’s record.
Ferrari is completely new territory for Hamilton, with Carlos Sainz making way for the seven-time champion as he settles in alongside Charles Leclerc, who is continuing to win big races for the team. It could be a double-header that’s formidable enough to take Ferrari back to the top of the Constructor’s Championship.
Ferrari’s Big Comeback?
There are no reasons why the Hamilton-Ferrari relationship can’t work. However, some sceptical F1 fans might point to the Italian team’s record over the past decade and a half and consider whether or not its glory days are over.
Ferrari’s six-championship streak between 1999 and 2004 is the stuff of legend. However, by 2008, the likes of Brawn, Red Bull and Mercedes quickly proved bigger challenges on the world stage. Ferrari hasn’t won a Constructors’ Championship since 2008 – with drivers such as Hamilton, Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel massively delivering for their respective teams over the years.
Therefore, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is one of mutual risk and experimentation. It’s a curious one, because a win for both driver and team will be one for the history books – effectively breaking Ferrari’s dry spell, and giving Hamilton that historic eighth title.
Essentially, both team and driver will need to push hard to claim more than just pole position at qualifying for 2025’s big races. There’s a major obstacle in the way, however.
Taking on Verstappen
Max Verstappen poses Hamilton and Ferrari with their biggest challenge. The Dutch driver is an unstoppable force – he has won three championships in the past three years, and is likely eyeing up his fourth in the next few weeks.
It certainly seems too late for anyone to challenge Verstappen for the top spot in these last few races – meaning that he’s hot on the heels of Hamilton’s record.
For everything to go Hamilton and Ferrari’s way in the next season, they need to work together to find a winning formula that finally breaks the Verstappen streak. Hamilton has broken a four-win championship streak before, back in 2014, when he prevented Vettel from claiming a fifth.
Unfortunately, there’s no real way of knowing right now which way this partnership will go – but there’s enough skill on either side to potentially shake things up in 2025.