Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has been closely studied over the winter break ahead of his debut with Formula 1’s most successful team.
The Australian Grand Prix has seen Lewis Hamilton stand on the top step of the podium twice already in his career and Ferrari fans would love to see him repeat that feat once again.
However, the 2025 season is arguably going to be the most difficult campaign for Hamilton to adapt to his new surroundings.
The grid has been converging for years and in the final season of the current regulations, the top teams should all be within hundredths of a second of each other.
Hamilton has been testing rigorously for Ferrari at both Fiorano and Barcelona and will be using the team’s simulator extensively to get an idea of how their 2025 car will behave.
Ferrari even made an ‘extreme’ change to Hamilton’s car during a recent Pirelli tyre test that may give him an idea of what next year’s car will be like.
Sky Sports F1 pundit Bernie Collins was speaking on The Red Flags Podcast about Hamilton’s upcoming debut for the Scuderia.
While she’s very excited for Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari, she thinks there are several big challenges that he paces that won’t make returning to winning ways easy.
Bernie Collins explains the challenges Lewis Hamilton faces at Ferrari
Asked about Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Collins said: “I think it’s going to be really interesting to watch.
“I think the challenge of Lewis stepping into a Ferrari shouldn’t be underestimated.
“He’s never driven a Ferrari engine, so really simple things like how the engine works, how the modes work, how the harvesting works, how the deployment works, they’re all different, right?
“We hear different terminology on the radio. Instinctively where he pushes the buttons is going to be different.
“So I think there’s going to be big differences in the car that’s going to be a challenge for Lewis.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
“He’s going to enjoy it, embrace it, I think Lewis really embraces a challenge. I think he does his best work when he’s been pushed quite hard.
“But again, it’s going to be this big shift in culture [as] Ferrari operate quite differently, it’s all different personnel, all different engineers.
“So can Lewis take the step in qualifying to make sure he’s there on race day to get the right decisions come his way.
“And he’s been part of this team like Mercedes have totally worked around Lewis for such a long time. And suddenly it’s not his team anymore.
“So, I wasn’t expecting it last year, but I’m excited to see how it pans out.”
Lewis Hamilton qualifying woes could cost him in battle with Charles Leclerc
As Collins explains, Hamilton has a lot to learn in a short period of time at Ferrari.
In stark contrast, Leclerc is much more aware of how Ferrari’s processes and procedures work, but he’s also an expert when it comes to the nuances of driving their Formula 1 cars.
As a result, Leclerc has become one of Formula 1’s best qualifiers and that could give him an advantage over Hamilton.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Especially considering Hamilton frequently complained last season at Mercedes that he was struggling with his one-lap pace during qualifying sessions.
Ferrari will likely favour whichever driver has track position, meaning if Leclerc is constantly starting ahead of Hamilton, team principal Frederic Vasseur may be forced to back the Monegasque driver.
While he won’t be against doing that, Hamilton has joined Ferrari to win a record eighth championship but beating his teammate is going to be his first and potentially toughest hurdle.
Leave feedback about this