Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari

[Forester1965]

[Megaflow]

Supersam83 said:

I'm thinking now that Hamilton signed with Ferrari on the basis that they would be hiring Adrian Newey for 2025 and that's what swayed him away from Mercedes.

Remember when he moved from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, Niki Lauda showed him the recruitment of Aldo Costa, Geoff Willis, Mike Elliot, Toto Wolff, and the hybrid engine details which made him sign on the dotted line.

This feels similar...

The same thought has crossed my mind.

[Heathwood]

All the speculation about AN potentially joining Ferrari understandably has the internet talking of the opportunity for Lewis to finally take the 8th title that should have been his a couple of years ago.

Now, I say this as a Lewis fan, but there seems to be little talk of CLC rather spoiling that party; it seems to be presumed that Lewis will gain the upper hand. Whilst I’m hopeful of this, Charles is no slouch and if he has a car that he doesn’t feel the need to over drive (and thereby make mistakes/crash), he may well prove quite a challenge to Lewis.

[thegreenhell]

It doesn't matter if Leclerc is faster because Hamilton will crash less often.

[TheDeuce]

Heathwood said:

All the speculation about AN potentially joining Ferrari understandably has the internet talking of the opportunity for Lewis to finally take the 8th title that should have been his a couple of years ago.

Now, I say this as a Lewis fan, but there seems to be little talk of CLC rather spoiling that party; it seems to be presumed that Lewis will gain the upper hand. Whilst I’m hopeful of this, Charles is no slouch and if he has a car that he doesn’t feel the need to over drive (and thereby make mistakes/crash), he may well prove quite a challenge to Lewis.

I suppose he's expected to be a challenge for Lewis, he's supposed to be.

But I don't rank him as highly as Lewis. Charles is indeed very fast, but inconsistent and prone to errors. Lewis is very fast, period.

Obviously he has made mistakes, but they're rare - before anyone points out the whopper he made in qualifying last time out...

[g4ry13]

Heathwood said:

All the speculation about AN potentially joining Ferrari understandably has the internet talking of the opportunity for Lewis to finally take the 8th title that should have been his a couple of years ago.

Now, I say this as a Lewis fan, but there seems to be little talk of CLC rather spoiling that party; it seems to be presumed that Lewis will gain the upper hand. Whilst I’m hopeful of this, Charles is no slouch and if he has a car that he doesn’t feel the need to over drive (and thereby make mistakes/crash), he may well prove quite a challenge to Lewis.

Historically speaking, Ferrari usually operate a #1/#2 driver arrangement. It's currently a bit more level with Charles and Carlos, but I'm guessing they're not splashing out on Lewis to have him play second fiddle.

[HTP99]

TheDeuce said:

Heathwood said:

All the speculation about AN potentially joining Ferrari understandably has the internet talking of the opportunity for Lewis to finally take the 8th title that should have been his a couple of years ago.

Now, I say this as a Lewis fan, but there seems to be little talk of CLC rather spoiling that party; it seems to be presumed that Lewis will gain the upper hand. Whilst I’m hopeful of this, Charles is no slouch and if he has a car that he doesn’t feel the need to over drive (and thereby make mistakes/crash), he may well prove quite a challenge to Lewis.

I suppose he's expected to be a challenge for Lewis, he's supposed to be.

But I don't rank him as highly as Lewis. Charles is indeed very fast, but inconsistent and prone to errors. Lewis is very fast, period.

Obviously he has made mistakes, but they're rare - before anyone points out the whopper he made in qualifying last time out...

LeClerc has a habit of over driving and making mistakes, I think he'll try and prove a point when partnered with Hamilton and invariably overdrive and make mistakes.

I honestly think Hamilton will perform better than LeClerc.

[TheDeuce]

HTP99 said:

TheDeuce said:

Heathwood said:

All the speculation about AN potentially joining Ferrari understandably has the internet talking of the opportunity for Lewis to finally take the 8th title that should have been his a couple of years ago.

Now, I say this as a Lewis fan, but there seems to be little talk of CLC rather spoiling that party; it seems to be presumed that Lewis will gain the upper hand. Whilst I’m hopeful of this, Charles is no slouch and if he has a car that he doesn’t feel the need to over drive (and thereby make mistakes/crash), he may well prove quite a challenge to Lewis.

I suppose he's expected to be a challenge for Lewis, he's supposed to be.

But I don't rank him as highly as Lewis. Charles is indeed very fast, but inconsistent and prone to errors. Lewis is very fast, period.

Obviously he has made mistakes, but they're rare - before anyone points out the whopper he made in qualifying last time out...

LeClerc has a habit of over driving and making mistakes, I think he'll try and prove a point when partnered with Hamilton and invariably overdrive and make mistakes.

I honestly think Hamilton will perform better than LeClerc.

I'm surprised the question was even asked tbh

[TikTak]

If anyone thinks anyone but Hamilton will be the No.1 driver at Ferrari, they've got another thing coming.

Charles might challenge at some races but he'll probably bin it, get some Ferrari strategy fun or just generally not be as quick. A few rounds in if Hamilton pulls a gap in the championship and they have the faintest whiff of a WCC/WDC, Charles will be told to fall in line.

The only things factors changing this are if they are only fighting over like 5th and 6th and assuming Hamilton gets to grips with everything quickly rather than struggling/throwing toys in the new car/setup.

[Kart16]

TikTak said:

If anyone thinks anyone but Hamilton will be the No.1 driver at Ferrari, they've got another thing coming.

Charles might challenge at some races but he'll probably bin it, get some Ferrari strategy fun or just generally not be as quick. A few rounds in if Hamilton pulls a gap in the championship and they have the faintest whiff of a WCC/WDC, Charles will be told to fall in line.

The only things factors changing this are if they are only fighting over like 5th and 6th and assuming Hamilton gets to grips with everything quickly rather than struggling/throwing toys in the new car/setup.

If I had to bet, I would bet that Charles will walk away from Hamilton. Today Russell is beating Hamilton and Leclerc is more talented than Russell. And Leclerc's experience with Ferrari will be a considerable advantage.

[TheDeuce]

Kart16 said:

TikTak said:

If anyone thinks anyone but Hamilton will be the No.1 driver at Ferrari, they've got another thing coming.

Charles might challenge at some races but he'll probably bin it, get some Ferrari strategy fun or just generally not be as quick. A few rounds in if Hamilton pulls a gap in the championship and they have the faintest whiff of a WCC/WDC, Charles will be told to fall in line.

The only things factors changing this are if they are only fighting over like 5th and 6th and assuming Hamilton gets to grips with everything quickly rather than struggling/throwing toys in the new car/setup.

If I had to bet, I would bet that Charles will walk away from Hamilton. Today Russell is beating Hamilton and Leclerc is more talented than Russell. And Leclerc's experience with Ferrari will be a considerable advantage.

[Jasandjules]

If the car suits Lewis, he will do well........ If Newey designs a fast car that suits him, he will get his 9th WDC.

[TheDeuce]

Jasandjules said:

If the car suits Lewis, he will do well........ If Newey designs a fast car that suits him, he will get his 9th WDC.

I don't recall Lewis ever not getting on with his car, unless it's been genuinely a bad car and his team mate has struggled too. Has he ever struggled with a car that others have gelled with?

I really think that whatever car Ferrari give him, he'll get as much out of it as anyone else could - and probably more consistently.

[Kart16]

TheDeuce said:

Let's see who will have the last laugh.

[paulguitar]

Kart16 said:

TheDeuce said:

Let's see who will have the last laugh.

Whatever happens at Ferrari, Hamilton, as the most successful driver in F1 history, with $300 million in the bank, will get the last laugh.

[TheDeuce]

Kart16 said:

TheDeuce said:

Let's see who will have the last laugh.

If Lewis eventually loses his spark and leclerc wipes the floor with him, would you laugh? Would you enjoy that?

Personally I'd just think it was weird to see a driver as consistent and naturally fast as Lewis gets beaten by a driver that tends to crash once every couple of months.

I'm not anti leclerc, he's great - very fast and I'm glad he's on the grid. But I don't see why anyone would await the day Lewis loses his touch as if it's an exciting moment or something to look forward too

Leclerc won't ever outdo Lewis's career. If he beat him, the only story would be that the sport was losing Lewis. That day will come of course, one day.

[Gazzab]

paulguitar said:

Kart16 said:

TheDeuce said:

Let's see who will have the last laugh.

Whatever happens at Ferrari, Hamilton, as the most successful driver in F1 history, with $300 million in the bank, will get the last laugh.

But that’s not the argument. It’s simply a question re his ability now vs that of leclerc now. I suspect leclerc will beat him but am happy to be proved wrong.

[paulguitar]

Gazzab said:

But that’s not the argument. It’s simply a question re his ability now vs that of leclerc now. I suspect leclerc will beat him but am happy to be proved wrong.

Yeah, I was being slightly tongue-in-cheek.

I suspect that if Hamilton gets into a competitive car, he'll be right there, even though LeClerc is 14 years younger. If it's a dog I think there's a chance Lewis's heart won't be in it and he'll fade a bit. Age has to catch up with him eventually.

[Jasandjules]

paulguitar said:

I suspect that if Hamilton gets into a competitive car, he'll be right there, even though LeClerc is 14 years younger. If it's a dog I think there's a chance Lewis's heart won't be in it and he'll fade a bit. Age has to catch up with him eventually.

The 2026 car will be a Newey design soooooo should be fast....

[nickfrog]

Kart16 said:

Let's see who will have the last laugh.

That's weird. I personally watch to enjoy the racing . Not to settle childish scores. I hope they get on well and play nicely whatever the outcome.