Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has caught the attention of everyone in the Formula 1 paddock.
The combination of the sport’s most successful team and the sport’s most successful driver is one of many reasons why the 2025 F1 season could be the most exciting campaign in years.
Ferrari were among the ten teams that launched their 2025 liveries at the F1 75 event in London.
The Scuderia’s new look didn’t take many people by surprise but the 20,000 fans at The O2 finally got to see their first glimpse of Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari overalls.
The seven-time world champion received by far the best reception of any driver on the night, in stark contrast to how Christian Horner and Red Bull were welcomed onto the stage.
Hamilton described his excitement for the 2025 season in one word on stage standing alongside new team principal Frederic Vasseur and teammate Charles Leclerc.
If Hamilton is going to win a record eighth title, he’s going to need to end Verstappen’s domination.
Red Bull chief Helmut Marko spoke to oe24 about Hamilton’s debut season and explained what he needs to do if he wants to beat the Anglo-Austrian outfit’s star driver.
Helmut Marko tells Lewis Hamilton to improve his qualifying to challenge Max Verstappen
Marko was asked how he feels about Hamilton joining Ferrari this year and said: “It takes some getting used to, but it’s fascinating.”
When it was put to him that he might have made the move too late, he continued: “I would be careful with that.
“If Hamilton is motivated, he can continue where he left off in 2021. The race to catch up that he delivered back then was impressive.
READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko? Everything to know
“However, the Ferrari has to be competitive. And Hamilton has to get qualifying right, that was never his strength.
“If he loses two or three-tenths to Leclerc, he always has to work his way up a few places on the grid. That puts a strain on the tyres…”
Finally, Marko was asked if he sees Hamilton as ‘serious competition’ to Verstappen and he concluded: “We’ll know after the tests when we see how good the Ferrari is. In any case, Max is the best driver.”
Lewis Hamilton finding one element of Ferrari move ‘tough’ after leaving Mercedes
Hamilton’s Formula 1 career has been incredibly stable, with drivers very rarely spending more than a few seasons with the same team.
The 40-year-old raced for Mercedes for 12 years so deciding to join Ferrari at this late stage of his career is a risk.
However, Hamilton has dreamed of racing for Ferrari for a long time and that will motivate him to put in the work required to be at the front of the grid.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Hamilton has admitted the work to get up to speed at Ferrari has been ‘tough’, but it’s given him a new lease of life and another reason to put in the long hours required to get a step ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen and everyone else on the grid.
Marko telling the driver with the most pole positions in Formula 1 history that he needs to improve his qualifying performances feels slightly harsh.
However, Hamilton admitted his one-lap pace wasn’t up to scratch last season at Mercedes, being outqualified by Russell on 19 occasions.
If he can cure that, then he may well be in the perfect position to finally eclipse Michael Schumacher’s championship tally.
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