Lewis Hamilton has spent his entire Formula 1 career being at the centre of the sport ever since his incredible debut campaign with McLaren in 2007.
Hamilton and teammate Fernando Alonso came tantalisingly close to winning the drivers’ championship that year, only to be defeated at the final race by Kimi Raikkonen.
Ever since Hamilton went on to win his first title in dramatic circumstances a year later, it was always a question of when and not if the 40-year-old would break every record Formula 1 has to offer.
He’s achieved more race wins, pole positions, fastest laps and podiums than any other driver in the sport’s history.
Two glaring records stand out though that Hamilton doesn’t possess yet that he would love to break during his time at Ferrari.
Overtaking Michael Schumacher’s seven world championships while racing for the team that the German is synonymous with would be special.
The other record is completely out of his control and requires the aforementioned Alonso to eventually retire so he can become the driver with the most Grand Prix starts to his name.
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari did at least break one record, that was previously held by new teammate Charles Leclerc.
Former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger was speaking to Auto Motor und Sport ahead of the 2025 season and Hamilton’s long-awaited debut.
While he thinks the move to Maranello is just what Hamilton needs for his career, he believes the presence of Leclerc could be an issue if he wants to break Schumacher’s record.
Gerhard Berger anticipates Charles Leclerc ‘struggle’ for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari
Berger was asked how he sees the situation for Hamilton playing out at Ferrari this year and said: “I think Hamilton needs new motivation. He has had two problems: the Mercedes has only been a winning car on exceptional occasions, and he has been in the same team for so long now that only a change of scenery will help.
“Finishing fifth is not a result that motivates Hamilton. He’ll have to grit his teeth again at Ferrari and could well be at his best once more.
“On the other hand, I think he’ll struggle against Leclerc’s speed. It’s going to be a very tight race.”
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Berger was then asked if he thinks Hamilton and Ferrari will work together and continued: “Yes. If Hamilton could become world champion in a Ferrari, that would be the greatest thing that has ever happened in Formula 1 in terms of marketing.”
While that might be the case, Ferrari didn’t sign Hamilton just for his marketability.
Leclerc’s incredible record in qualifying could prove to be a problem for the 40-year-old, but if he can overcome that, then he’s got a real shot of winning the title.
Gerhard Berger makes Ferrari prediction for the 2025 constructors’ championship
Asked who he thinks could win the constructors’ championship this year, Berger said: “I would put my money on Ferrari this season.
“I can’t say whether Hamilton or Leclerc will win the drivers‘ or constructors’ world championship, but they will win a title. That’s my personal impression.
“Ferrari was almost always fast last year, with a few slip-ups. I trust Fred Vasseur to get this volatility out of his system. It took a while, but I think they are very close.
“They are well positioned in terms of engine and chassis and have top drivers. Vasseur makes a good impression.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
“He is calm, thoughtful, always on point, and he delivers. That has been the case at all the stations in the motorsport world where he has been so far.
“It was a good decision by Ferrari to sign him. And it was clear that it would take a year or two for his work to pay off.
“Now I have the feeling that it’s starting to work. I also think it’s great that he got Hamilton. Vasseur will bring Ferrari back to the top.”
Vasseur’s impact on Ferrari can’t be underestimated and if he can end their long wait for a championship, then he’ll forever write his name in the team’s history.
It’s not going to be an easy task and balancing the needs of this year with the upcoming ruleset change in 2026 is arguably his toughest task.
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