Scuderia Ferrari are set to enter the 2025 Method 1 marketing campaign with lofty ambitions, particularly given the momentum they carried on the conclusion of the earlier marketing campaign.
Regardless of narrowly lacking out on the constructors’ championship to McLaren, the Scuderia ended the season in a robust place, signaling their potential for the upcoming yr. Charles Leclerc matched the efficiency ranges of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen within the closing stretch of the season, and had Ferrari’s improve package deal in Spain delivered the meant outcomes, they could have been celebrating as champions heading into 2025.
Final season, Ferrari boasted one of the crucial formidable driver pairings on the grid, however when the chance arose to signal the game’s most adorned driver, they opted to half methods with Carlos Sainz. Now, Lewis Hamilton has arrived in Maranello, embarking on his mission to safe an unprecedented eighth world title whereas concurrently aiming to finish Ferrari’s 17-year championship drought. The British driver has already embraced his new environment, greeting Ferrari employees in Italian, whereas the large turnout at Fiorano for his first laps in pink showcased simply how effectively his arrival has been acquired by the tifosi.
But, because the 2025 season approaches, a key query lingers—what function does Ferrari envision for Hamilton, and if a real title battle emerges, the place will their assist lie between him and Leclerc?
In line with journalist Laurence Edmondson on the Unlapped Podcast, Ferrari’s senior management has a transparent desire for the way the season ought to unfold. The highest decision-makers inside Ferrari are eager for Lewis Hamilton to imagine the function of their main driver all through the 2025 Method 1 marketing campaign.
Discussing the motive force dynamics at Maranello, Laurence Edmondson steered that Ferrari had reached a extra secure place, which he believed would allow Charles Leclerc to maximise his efficiency.
He identified that whereas Leclerc had established himself as Ferrari’s lead driver—relationship again to his victories over Sebastian Vettel in 2019—Hamilton’s arrival launched a component of uncertainty. Edmondson famous that, as at all times, the group was more likely to assist whichever driver made the stronger begin and accrued extra factors early within the season.
Nonetheless, he speculated that Ferrari’s prime executives, together with chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna, may truly be anticipating Hamilton to tackle the number-one function. He reasoned that their monetary dedication to Hamilton’s contract, together with the numerous advertising and marketing worth he delivered to the group, might affect their expectations.
Regardless of this, Laurence Edmondson emphasised that from a purely sporting perspective, efficiency on monitor would finally decide Ferrari’s lead driver. He additionally believed that Leclerc had a robust alternative to achieve an early benefit within the championship and maintain it.
Charles Leclerc Poised to Derail Lewis Hamilton’s First Season with Ferrari
Whereas Ferrari has each business and sporting motivations for wanting Lewis Hamilton to thrive, Charles Leclerc could produce other plans.
As Edmondson factors out, Hamilton’s immense marketability is already proving to be a significant asset for the group. His social media engagement has shattered information, making him a pretty determine for sponsors desirous to affiliate with Ferrari. This off-track worth solely strengthens the group’s incentive to see him succeed.
Nonetheless, with regards to on-track efficiency, Charles Leclerc is shaping as much as be Hamilton’s largest impediment—assuming Ferrari has delivered a aggressive package deal over the winter break.
The Monegasque driver ended final season in arguably one of the best type of his profession, demonstrating an distinctive understanding of Ferrari’s present era of automobiles. His means to extract most efficiency from the equipment provides him an important benefit over the British driver, who will want time to regulate.
Not like the Monegasque, Lewis Hamilton has struggled with the dealing with traits of recent ground-effect automobiles throughout his time at Mercedes. If he requires a number of races to totally adapt to Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, these early-season factors losses might show expensive within the drivers’ championship battle.