Lewis Hamilton made his debut on Italian territory at Imola, following the announcement of his move to Ferrari.
Former team principal Eddie Jordan has predicted “fireworks” for Lewis Hamilton when he joins Ferrari, and believes he will give an “almighty crack” at the F1 2025 World Championship.
Next season, Hamilton is set to join Ferrari and team up with Charles Leclerc, creating an impressive driver line-up. This move will also reunite the seven-time World Champion with his former team boss, Fred Vasseur, with whom he collaborated during his journey through the junior categories.
Lewis Hamilton tipped to be ‘serious contender’ after Ferrari move
Since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton has been on his longest winless streak in his illustrious career. During this time, Mercedes managed to secure only one victory in the ground-effect era, which was achieved by George Russell in Brazil in 2022.
Despite Hamilton and Russell consistently achieving podium finishes, Mercedes, the eight-time Constructors’ champions, are currently facing more difficulties this year as they currently hold the fourth position in the standings.
With a change of scene coming after more than a decade with the team, former team owner Jordan believes this comes at an opportune time for Hamilton , with his move to Ferrari a chance to work at a “magic place” in Formula 1.
On the Formula For Success podcast, Jordan expressed his belief that his mojo was thriving at Mercedes and he required a fresh start.
Lewis went there because the intensity of time, pressure, and stress on people often necessitates the search for alternative parameters.
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Honestly, I don’t think it has anything to do with contracts or money. In my opinion, he simply wants to conclude his career at Ferrari because it holds a special allure for him.
He plans to move to Italy, which I can comprehend. His intention is to master the language, and I believe these factors are crucial. Without doing so, he will not be accepted within the Ferrari community.
Do you believe he has the potential to win a World Championship in the future? I believe they possess great strength. Fred Vasseur has managed to impress us all with his remarkable ability to bring a sense of tranquility to the team.
Similar to McLaren, they are gradually and steadily making progress, just like how one catches a monkey, with Red Bull being the monkey.
As they continue to make progress, it will be advantageous for us as we can anticipate witnessing improved high-quality races. Hopefully, we won’t have to witness Max dominating the race by being 20 or 30 seconds ahead.
David Coulthard, a 13-time grand prix winner and Jordan’s co-host, pondered whether Hamilton could defy the “inherent decline” of driving as he crossed the age of 40, especially considering Leclerc’s presence as a teammate.
Coulthard expressed his desire to witness an intense competition within the Scuderia team in the upcoming year, and he would be thrilled to witness Hamilton’s exceptional performance. However, he acknowledged that facing Leclerc as a teammate would pose a significant challenge.
Coulthard inquired Jordan about his thoughts on how he believed he would coexist with Charles Leclerc.
Personally, I believe that Charles, who is currently 27 and one of the fastest individuals, will pose a significant challenge for Lewis, who will be 40.
I acknowledge Lewis’ brilliance without a doubt, but it’s simply a natural progression in one’s career.
I must believe that Lewis has accumulated all the necessary experience, but it’s hard to believe that he’s becoming faster at his age.
“I understand that this might disappoint Lewis fans, but I would genuinely be thrilled to witness him defy age and engage in a closely contested battle with Charles.”
Jordan then stated his belief that Hamilton has the potential to become a strong contender for his eighth World Championship title. He predicted that Hamilton will give it his all and make a serious attempt to achieve this before the regulations in Formula 1 change in 2026.
He expressed his disagreement, stating, “In my opinion, for the upcoming year 2025, the new regulations will not be implemented. Therefore, he will essentially be driving the same car he currently has.”
In my opinion, when Lewis donned the red overalls at the age of 39, it reminded me of the electrifying moment when he transitioned from McLaren to Mercedes. It was truly like witnessing fireworks.
I believe Lewis has a strong chance of becoming a serious contender for the World Championship. Rest assured, he will put in a tremendous effort next year and continue to do so until at least 2026.
“Anything can happen.”
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