Lewis Hamilton is one of the most successful F1 racers. The Briton is a living legend with seven world titles under his name. However, recent times have been problematic, as his performance graph has gone negative. Further, a name that once reigned the F1 paddock has failed to win a single race since 2022.
Moreover, while his racing form has been questionable, the Mercedes team’s technical woes have played an equal part. Since the introduction of ground-effect, the engineers at Brackley have been clueless about aerodynamics. As a result, the German Marque has slipped from the top towards mediocrity. Altogether, these factors contributed to one of the biggest shockers of the 2024 season. Lewis Hamilton, after a decade and six world titles with Mercedes, decided to make a move to Ferrari. While his quest for a record-breaking eighth title has led him to the Prancing Horse, an F1 pundit has cautioned him ahead of the 2025 season.
F1 Pundit Warns Hamilton While Fred Vasseur Shares A Contrasting Opinion
While Hamilton and Ferrari fans are excited for the upcoming season, F1 pundit Andrew Benson has a shocking prediction. In a Q&A session with the BBC, Benson claimed that Charles Leclerc might pose a significant challenge for Hamilton. Although the seven-time world champion has ample experience, Leclerc’s racing abilities should not be ‘underestimated.’ Further, Benson explained Hamilton would be moving to Italy, which has an entirely different culture and environment.
Thus, it’ll take time for him to get acquainted with the fresh milieu. Moreover, Charles Leclerc has ingratiated himself with the Tifosi. Consequently, he is unlikely to let the Briton take the lead. Furthermore, Benson professed the Montegasque to be the fastest driver on the grid. Hence, ‘out-qualifying’ someone with the ability of Leclerc wouldn’t be a cakewalk. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton would soon enter his 40s, and with age, his reflexes would take a toll. Thus, contesting against someone fourteen years younger would be a rough sea to sail.
On the other hand, Ferrari Boss Fredrich Vasseur has asserted the positives of intra-team competition. During an interaction with Autosport, Vasseur said he would rather have two strong drivers than one and a half. Further, he explained that two equally able drivers having a go at each other is always beneficial for the team. Due to stiff competition within the squad, both drivers would push each other to perform with utmost intensity. Moreover, the Frenchman pointed out the emulation between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, as the duo help each other to do better.
Carlos Sainz Considering ‘Several’ Options As The 2025 Contract Deadline Approaches
While everyone is focused on discussing the Hamilton-Leclerc dynamic for the 2025 season, Carlos Sainz emerges as the driver most affected by this agreement. The Spaniard will be replaced by Hamilton, who has yet to find a new home. While speculations of him getting a place at Red Bull were raging, the RBR denied it by re-signing Sergio Perez.
However, despite the blurry future, Sainz is confident as he is considering ‘several’ options. During an appearance on the Spanish show El Hormiguero, he said the decision would soon be shared with everyone. Moreover, the Spaniard wants to eliminate this problem as quickly as possible to focus on the current season. However, for now, he can only wait and hope to get a call from one of the top teams.
