Lewis Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari has divided opinion, with two ex-F1 drivers making totally different predictions.
Former Formula One driver Jarno Trulli has delivered a harsh reality check to Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, stating that Red Bull remains ‘unbeatable’ and that the Brit’s transfer will “change nothing.”
After more than ten years at Mercedes, Hamilton’s dramatic switch to Ferrari stunned the Formula One community this week. The British driver will start racing in red starting in 2025.
Former Formula One driver Trulli has put a dampener on the huge excitement surrounding the bombshell news by stating that Hamilton won’t be able to turn Ferrari into a serious title contender because Red Bull and Max Verstappen have dominated the sport for the past three years.
The 49-year-old, who competed in Formula One racing for multiple teams from 1997 to 2011, stated to La Repubblica: “While Lewis is realizing his childhood dream, the Red Bulls’ current undefeated status means that a switch by itself is insufficient. The seven-time world champion joining the most significant and esteemed team came as a bombshell. However, it doesn’t really alter anything.
No matter how many champions you field, the outcome with Hamilton won’t differ significantly from Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s results if the car and the team aren’t competitive. It’s true that despite his advanced age, your champion is still among the best drivers available and has a ton of experience. However, that does not ensure that you will succeed.
“Winning titles is more important than having a seven-time world champion living with you. To be honest, I believe Hamilton will gain more from this than Ferrari.”
Another former Formula One driver, though, is in total disagreement with Trulli. Gerhard Berger praised Ferrari for completing the deal and predicted that Hamilton would have an impact akin to Michael Schumacher’s.
“It seems like the best decision ever to me to sign Hamilton,” he said in an interview with Corriere della Sera. I’ve been waiting for this step for a very long time. The news is excellent. Compared to the dynamics of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Hamilton offers a fresh perspective to the team. A team may occasionally need a change in energy.
“I am confident that Lewis will bring new abilities, engineers, and a fresh approach to decision-making to Maranello, motivated by a shared sense of purpose among the team members. Akin to what transpired when Schumacher became a Ferrari employee.”
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