Could Lewis Hamilton’s long winless streak finally come to an end in F1 2025 with Ferrari?
Former Ferrari driver Ivan Capelli has predicted that Lewis Hamilton will look “20 years younger” when he joins the Scuderia in F1 2025, having struggled to cope with Mercedes’ recent “technical decline.”
Hamilton announced in February that he will join Ferrari on a multi-year contract from F1 2025, ending his long and successful association with Mercedes.
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Hamilton’s decision to step down as the seven-time World Champion arrived during his longest winless period in Formula 1. He has yet to secure a victory since the second-to-last race of the 2021 F1 season in Saudi Arabia.
Just a week before Hamilton was controversially dethroned in Abu Dhabi by Max Verstappen, who has won an impressive 48 out of the last 71 races.
In an interview with Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capelli stated that both Hamilton and Ferrari were not dependent on each other, but he expressed his belief that they would form a formidable and potentially disruptive partnership in the upcoming season.
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He is confident that Hamilton will regain his confidence and performance at Maranello, as he appeared to have been affected by Mercedes’ decline since the implementation of the ground effect regulations in F1 2022.
He stated that having a renowned driver in a legendary team would undoubtedly have marketing implications. Neither of them necessarily required the other, but their collaboration formed a disruptive combination.
“Ferrari acts as a catalyst for happiness and rejuvenation, energizing him to feel two decades younger and providing him with an immense drive and determination.”
In F1 2024, Hamilton has experienced his most challenging season start to date. Despite being a seven-time World Champion, he has been outperformed in qualifying by his team-mate George Russell in five out of the initial six races.
Mercedes is yet to achieve their first podium finish in the new campaign, as they currently trail Red Bull by a significant 175 points in the Constructors’ Championship.
Capelli asserted that the Ferrari newcomer has lacked the appropriate emotional mindset ever since Mercedes encountered difficulties. However, he emphasized his belief that Hamilton will regain his energy once he joins Ferrari.
When questioned about whether Ferrari should be concerned about Hamilton’s performance against Russell, he replied, “Not at all, no.”
At present, Lewis is struggling to adjust to Mercedes’ recent track record of technical regression.
“When the situation is like that, you don’t approach the track with the correct emotional mindset, the fierce determination, or the enthusiasm that stems only from the successful performance that Mercedes is currently lacking.”
“The Ferrari challenge will be different.”
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