Christian Horner makes ‘very flat’ admission about Lewis Hamilton before 2025 Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton is off to Ferrari in 2025 after an incredible 12 years with Mercedes.

The Brit broke numerous records with the Silver Arrows since joining the team in 2013. Hamilton won six of his seven world championships between 2014 and 2020, helped Mercedes win eight consecutive constructors’ titles and became the winningest driver in F1 history.

The 39-year-old will join Ferrari next season and partner Charles Leclerc, replacing Carlos Sainz who will make the move to Williams in 2025.

Many have wondered when Hamilton would get his first outing in red before the 2025 season. Mercedes blocked Hamilton from testing in Abu Dhabi after the 2024 season finale as he is still contracted to the Silver Arrows until the new year.

Ferrari aim to give Hamilton an outing at their Fiorano Circuit in January and have other dates scheduled in February if their original plans do not come to fruition.

Hamilton has privately visited Maranello ahead of his Ferrari contract coming into effect. The Brit has now had the same ‘secret meetings’ as what Sainz did before his move to the team from McLaren in 2021.

Christian Horner says Ferrari could be the move Lewis Hamilton needs after looking ‘very flat’ at Mercedes

Hamilton comes to Ferrari off the back of a disappointing farewell season with Mercedes after registering the lowest finish of his career with seventh in the standings.

Despite winning two races in 2024 – his first since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – the Brit again struggled to find consistency with his car. Qualifying was a major issue for Hamilton as teammate George Russell comprehensively beat him on Saturdays and Sundays across the season, finishing 22 points ahead in the championship.

Ferrari offers a fresh start for Hamilton, which Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes could be the ‘revitalisation’ he has been looking for after being ‘very flat’ at Mercedes during the ground-effect era.

Horner told talkSPORT Driving: “Lewis, that’s a big move. He’s been with the Mercedes family his entire career, so to step out of that into arguably the biggest brand in Formula 1, Ferrari.

“It’s a great story for Formula 1 and it could be just the revitalisation of Lewis that he’s been looking for. He’s looked very flat the last three years and perhaps that relationship became a little stale.

“Lewis, he’s the most successful driver in the history of the sport and driving a Ferrari next year, [he] could well be a serious competitor.”

Could Lewis Hamilton fight for the 2025 title with Ferrari?

Hamilton will be encouraged by the performance shown by Ferrari in 2024 heading into next season, especially at the end of the year.

Despite missing out on the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren by just 14 points, the SF-24 displayed great pace over one lap and was competitive in the races, giving them a good foundation to build upon for 2025.

Many have questioned whether Hamilton will be able to perform with the Maranello outfit given his poor form at Mercedes this season and the tough competition he will face with Leclerc as his teammate.

But the 39-year-old has proven at times in 2024 that he still has the ability of a seven-time champion. Hamilton put in a vintage performance in Abu Dhabi to finish fourth after starting P16.