Jackie Stewart has told doubters not to underestimate Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s chances this year as the Brit chases an eighth Formula 1 World Championship.
The first outing of Hamilton in a Ferrari last month dominated the headlines of all the F1 media publications as he took to the team’s private test circuit in Fiorano.
A second test took place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where the 40-year-old spun off the track crashing the SF-23.
The past week saw Hamilton conduct more testing, this time in a modified version of Ferrari’s 2024 machine as he tested the tyres Pirelli is developing for next season.
Questions over his ability to compete for titles have been circulating over the last few weeks as the centurion race winner donned the iconic red overalls for the first time.
Most recently, Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft suggested that 2025 will be his “best chance” at securing the elusive eighth title before the new regulations in 2026.
Despite being perplexed by his move to the Maranello-based squad, Stewart insisted that Hamilton shouldn’t be ruled out of contention in the upcoming campaign.
“He’s more experienced than he was last year and the years before that, he knows the business very well,” the three-time World Champion told Sky F1.
“For Lewis, I was surprised he was going there.
“Going to Ferrari is very colourful, very exciting and usually very successful. I wouldn’t count them out, to put it that way.”
Stewart recognises the stature of Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen was the last driver to win a Drivers’ Championship for Ferrari back in 2007 when he beat Hamilton, a rookie at the time, to the title by a single point.
Fred Vassuer has led the team since 2023 and in his second season at the helm, Ferrari came agonisingly close to its first Constructors’ Championship since 2008.
Stewart was keen to point out that even though it has been a while since the team triumphed, the Italian marque remains one of the most prestigious organisations.
“Ferrari is the biggest name in the world,” the 85-year-old added.
“If you went to a Masai warrior in the middle of Africa and said, ‘Do you know anything about Ferrari?’
“They would know the name Ferrari.”
The 2025 campaign will pit Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc, who has been in Ferrari’s line-up since 2018 and achieved a career-high points total last time around.
The Moneqasue’s last title fight was back in 2022 when he took on Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, but numerous mistakes denied him from mounting a sustained challenge.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton completes Ferrari test with Pirelli in Barcelona
