Lewis Hamilton’s final season as a Mercedes driver wasn’t the swansong that he or the team would have hoped for after 12 years.
Mercedes have struggled to consistently battle at the front of the grid across the past three years.
Hamilton won twice in three races – at Silverstone and Spa – but was only on the podium on three more occasions in 2024.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is confident in Hamilton’s abilities, but some doubts appear to exist in the seven-time world champion’s mind.
Hamilton has always had some self-doubt, but more often than not, he’s proved time and again that he’s one of Formula 1’s greatest-ever drivers.
Justin Bell tells Lewis Hamilton to ‘get rid’ of self-defacing comments before Ferrari move
Pundit and former racing driver Justin Bell was speaking on the Drive to Wynn Podcast about Hamilton’s upcoming move after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton had a nightmare in qualifying after striking a bollard but drove brilliantly to finish fourth.
Talking about his future, Bell said: “I want to quickly talk about Mercedes, obviously, especially Lewis Hamilton and his run to fourth place.
“It was such a strong finish, amazing drive from P16.
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“I hope as we go into next year, we get rid of some of his sometimes, I think self-defacing comments like, ‘I’m not fast anymore. I haven’t got it.’
“I think he just gets so tough on himself. Imagine, you are the most successful Formula 1 driver in history and you’re qualifying 16th.
“I know he had a bollard under the car and things which he picked up.
“But I think for Lewis, definitely at the end of the race, you could see that emotion, that stunning overtake on George Russell on the final lap to take fourth place.
“It was on Instagram yesterday, someone from the crowd had a different angle and just seeing the fluid speed holding it in.
“I’ve said it all the way along, I think he’s going to go into Ferrari like an old dog with a new puppy to play with. He will be ready to go.”
Lewis Hamilton needs a strong start at Ferrari to cast aside any doubts
Hamilton missed out on the post-season test in Abu Dhabi with Ferrari due to sponsorship commitments with Mercedes.
He’s said his final goodbyes to Mercedes now and in January will be heading to Maranello to get ready for the 2025 season.
Charles Leclerc will be a very tough teammate for Hamilton, particularly if he has concerns about his one-lap pace.
Hamilton has been outclassed by George Russell this season in qualifying and Leclerc is rated as F1’s fastest qualifier.
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The Monegasque driver is also much more acclimated to racing for Ferrari, whereas Hamilton is going to need time to adjust.
Circumstances are likely to be in Leclerc’s favour to begin with and Hamilton will need to have complete confidence in his ability to match or even beat his newest F1 teammate.
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