Karun Chandhok makes Lewis Hamilton comparison to Nigel Mansell after Ferrari move, ‘thrives on people power…’

Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is one of the biggest stories of the 2025 season, with the seven-time world champion looking to add to his impressive recordsin Formula 1.

The Briton has spent the last two months preparing for his first race with the Italian team, having participated in tests in older cars at their Fiorano test track.

Hamilton later drove the SF-25 for the first time at the test track, before heading to Bahrain for the official F1 pre-season test. Although Hamilton disappointed fans with his lack of race runs and qualifying pace, he appeared to be very comfortable within the new car.

Ferrari had to abort his race run on the final day due to an ‘anomaly’ in telemetry, but the three days were all about getting used to how they operate trackside.

Discussing Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season opener at Melbourne, Karun Chandhok explains why the Briton has one thing that Nigel Mansell also had when he was at Ferrari when speaking on The F1 Show podcast.

Karun Chandhok thinks power of fans will drive Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari

Hamilton made his first official appearance in Ferrari red at the F1 75 launch in London, receiving a massive reception from the British crowd. The Tifosi also turned up in their numbers for Hamilton’s first test at Fiorano.

Mansell would claim that the fans at the British GP would often give him an extra half a second in lap time, and Chandhok believes the same thing will empower Hamilton at Ferrari this season.

“Those images of when Lewis first arrived in Maranello, the bridge full of Tifosi waiting to see his first lap, I saw some pictures on the Milan tour. We’ve often talked about how Lewis is a bit like Nigel Mansell, he thrives on people power and adoration from the fans,” said Chandhok.

“You see at the British GP, he rises to the occasion. I think the fact that Ferrari, the Italian team and fans have really embraced him and are excited on how to be there, I think he’ll take a lot of energy from that.”

Martin Brundle makes one bold prediction about Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025

Hamilton hold the record for most races with a single team, having spent 12 years at Mercedes and won six titles.

Martin Brundle thinks Hamilton will win more than one race with Ferrari, given the team ended the 2024 season in a good place.

Ferrari is expected to be impacted in the mid-season FIA rule change that comes into effect at the Spanish GP, but broadly speaking the team to beat in 2025 will be McLaren.

Max Verstappen thinks McLaren are the only title contender based on their current form, although with it being a 24-race calendar things can change if the right developments are brought to cars.