The Abu Dhabi race of 2021 saw a new rivalry take shape. Max Verstappen, a shining youngster, was on the verge of clinching his maiden world title. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was inching towards a record-breaking eighth world title. In the final moments of the race, a crash prompted the deployment of a safety car. Until then, Hamilton was in the lead and was a few laps away from creating history.
However, Verstappen made a final maneuver, which the Mercedes team challenged. The FIA turned down the objection, and Hamilton’s dream was shattered while F1 witnessed a new world champion. Since that race, Mercedes and Red Bull have followed completely opposite trajectories. The Mercedes team was pushed to be a mid-field team due to its inability to decipher ground effects. Meanwhile, Red Bull has been unstoppable, winning consecutive world titles. The performance gap was the reason F1 fans never saw Verstappen and Hamilton clash again. The seven-time world champion will join Ferrari in 2025. Therefore, the Red Bull chief predicts a tough competition between the two rivals for the upcoming world titles.
Red Bull Chief Believes Hamilton Is Joining Ferrari At The Perfect Time
At the beginning of the year, Lewis Hamilton made the surprising decision to end his long-standing partnership with Mercedes and join Ferrari. This move raised eyebrows, especially during a mid-season period when Ferrari’s performance dipped. However, Hamilton managed to secure two wins in three races, including a thrilling victory at Silverstone, which briefly made it seem like he had made the wrong call.
But Ferrari soon regained momentum, clinching victories in the United States and Mexico, positioning itself as a strong contender in the constructors’ championship alongside McLaren. This resurgence bodes well for Hamilton’s decision to join the Scuderia. Christian Horner has expressed curiosity about how Hamilton will adjust to life at Ferrari, given that he’s coming from a highly familiar environment at Mercedes, where he has spent over a decade.
Moreover, the RBR chief noted that while Charles Leclerc is a formidable driver, Ferrari’s improving performance makes the team an exciting prospect. Hamilton, a driver of immense skill and experience, will undoubtedly be a key challenger. According to Horner, Hamilton’s decision to switch teams suggests he sees great potential in Ferrari’s future, and it will be fascinating to see how this transition unfolds for the seven-time world champion.
Karun Chandhok Eagerly Anticipates Hamilton’s Ferrari Move, Highlighting One Key Aspect
Karun Chandhok is particularly excited to see how Lewis Hamilton performs at Ferrari, especially in terms of rediscovering his mojo. He believes that Ferrari seems to be in a better place than Mercedes at the moment, especially given their recent form. A few months ago, prior to the summer break, Mercedes appeared to have the momentum, with three consecutive victories boosting their confidence. However, in recent races, Ferrari has gained the upper hand, making Chandhok curious to see how Hamilton will adapt and whether he can rekindle his competitive spirit with the Scuderia.
