Nigel Mansell is the last British driver to win a Formula 1 race while driving for Ferrari.
The 1990 Portuguese Grand Prix saw Nigel Mansell lead the legendary Ayrton Senna and Ferrari teammate Alain Prost over the line in an otherwise frustrating campaign.
It was a golden era for Formula 1, with Mansell equalling Stirling Moss’ record that day for most Grand Prix victories without having won a world championship – 16.
The Brit reached 29 wins before finally clinching the title at the 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix, but at this point, Mansell had departed Ferrari for Williams.
Lewis Hamilton has an equally difficult challenge at Ferrari 35 years later as he hopes to regularly return to the top step of the podium.
Max Verstappen wants to achieve a fifth consecutive title, while McLaren’s bold design choices could see them win back-to-back constructors’ championships.
Hamilton also has to defeat teammate Charles Leclerc if he stands any chance of winning a record eighth title, and while he wasn’t at his best in 2024, Mansell believes the 40-year-old is going to surprise a lot of people this season.
In an interview with TalkSPORT, Mansell outlined his expectations for his fellow Brit, with Hamilton earlier explaining what he’s found tough since arriving at Ferrari, while also admitting that the excitement of joining a new team has reinvigorated him.
Nigel Mansell predicts ‘monumental’ Lewis Hamilton season at Ferrari
Mansell was asked ahead of the F1 75 event what he makes of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari despite the fact he hasn’t taken part in a Grand Prix yet and said: “Well, having been there and done it, I think it’s absolutely fantastic!
“I mean, Ferrari’s a dream come true and Lewis is doing everything right.
“Lewis is a complete class act, he’s going to surprise a lot of people this year.
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“[He’s] not surprised me, but I think he’s going to get the job done and Ferrari between him and Charles Leclerc, Ferrari is overdue for winning a championship or both championships.
“So, the timing I think of coming together with Ferrari is monumental. I think it’s so exciting!”
Nigel Mansell previews the 2025 Formula 1 championship and makes ‘mega’ teams claim
Mansell was then discussing the other manufacturers on the grid including his old team Williams and said: “They’re long, long overdue to have [some] success, so let’s hope they can get some wins this year!
“I think just as important as that is McLaren have done an incredible job winning that constructors’ championship and they’ve got two great drivers who can go for both championships.
“Max, what can you say about Max? What a superb champion he is and winning the four titles on the bounce.
“He’ll be wanting to defend and go for a fifth, there’s no question about that.
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“And they’ve got a point to prove as well having lost Adrian Newey now. Hopefully, their car’s going to be good and spectacular.
“Let’s be fair to Mercedes, what a fantastic team Mercedes is with Toto Wolff and George Russell is leading the team there and they’ll want to bounce back and win races and go for the championship too.
“All the regulations have closed down now, everyone’s caught up, so you’ve got four really mega teams that can go for the world championship and a lot of other teams trying to win as well.
“I think [it will be] the most exciting year for Formula 1 is to come in 2025.”
Mansell’s expectation that half the team on the grid could win the championship this year shows how difficult Hamilton’s task is going to be.
However, it says a lot that he still has faith in the seven-time world champion to overcome those obstacles and come out on top in 2025.
