McLaren and Red Bull are both expecting Lewis Hamilton to have a prominent role in the championship battle during his debut campaign with Ferrari in Formula 1 in 2025.
The Briton stands as the most decorated driver to have graced the sport with a record 105 victories and an equal-best seven titles across his acclaimed career to date.
However, Hamilton hasn’t been in the mix to win an unprecedented eighth crown since losing out in contentious circumstances to Max Verstappen at the 2021 season finale.
That has been down to the struggles that Mercedes has endured since the previous rules change in 2022, which consigned him to experiencing successive winless seasons.
But having cut a disenchanted figure at times in his last campaign with Mercedes, Hamilton has expressed that beginning a new chapter at Ferrari has “revitalised” him.
Verstappen, who is bidding to win a fourth consecutive title in 2025, is anticipating his rivalry with Hamilton to be reignited should Ferrari equip his rival with a competitive car.
Asked whether he views Hamilton as a championship contender this season, Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week at the F1 75 season launch in London: “It all depends on the car. We all know how good Lewis is. There’s no debate on that. It all depends on the car.”
Even though the two have seldom crossed paths on track since that title fight, Hamilton and Verstappen’s recent battles have still tended to end in clashes that incited drama.
Questioned on whether he was looking forward to potentially renewing those on-track duels, the Red Bull driver added: “Yes, but that’s with anyone. When you’re fighting for wins, that’s always really nice.”
Hamilton Ferrari success depends on fast start
Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes that Hamilton’s championship hopes in 2025 will be contingent on how seamlessly he adapts to operating in a new environment at Ferrari.
“I think that, yeah, if he gets off to a good start and he gets the team behind him and he finds his confidence and he rides off that energy, then I can see him becoming a real contender in this championship,” he said.
“But I think so much will depend on how he gels with the team in that early part of the season. And we all know what Lewis is capable with, and if he’s re-energised in a different environment, absolutely, I think he could be a real factor this year.”
McLaren braced for Hamilton battle
Red Bull and McLaren shared the title honours last time around as the Woking-based squad claimed the Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 1998.
But with Ferrari having taken the contest down to the wire, McLaren CEO Zak Brown suspects that Hamilton will have the tools at his disposal to challenge his erstwhile team.
“Yeah, [I] definitely anticipate Lewis being a championship contender,” Brown agreed.
“I think we and Ferrari ended last year with nothing between us. I think that’ll continue.
“Mercedes were very close. They still won four or five races, so I’d put them in there. And, of course, Red Bull. Super strong first half of the year. A little bit less strong middle of the year and then ended very strong.
“So I don’t think there’s going to be anything between it with those four teams.”
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