One of the crucial fascinating storylines of the 2025 Formulation 1 season is Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari, because the seven-time world champion embarks on a quest to safe his eighth title with the enduring Maranello staff. This marks a big chapter in his illustrious profession, with Hamilton doubtlessly turning into the primary driver in F1 historical past since Jack Brabham to assert a championship on the age of 40. As he continues to construct upon his outstanding legacy, Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari is about to be a significant point of interest of the upcoming season.
To formally start their partnership, Ferrari will host a personal check for Hamilton in late January, simply after his departure from Mercedes on the finish of December. This can mark a big milestone, because it represents the primary time Hamilton has joined a staff outdoors the UK all through his complete F1 profession. This distinctive shift comes with its personal set of challenges, together with the language barrier. Nevertheless, whereas Hamilton shouldn’t be endeavor Italian classes like his predecessor, Sebastian Vettel, there may be one technique he’s adopting to assist ease communication together with his new staff.
When Sebastian Vettel joined the Maranello staff again in 2015, he acknowledged the significance of efficient communication and thus enrolled in Italian classes to foster a greater relationship together with his engineers and staff members. This proactive strategy allowed him to beat any linguistic hurdles and helped him bond with the staff extra seamlessly. Lewis Hamilton, however, shouldn’t be following the identical route of language classes however is as a substitute specializing in a special methodology to bridge the communication hole together with his Ferrari engineers. As revealed by journalist Ben Hunt on the JA on F1 podcast, Lewis Hamilton has discovered an alternate strategy that he believes can be simply as efficient in constructing rapport with the staff, permitting him to give attention to the duty at hand.
Ben Hunt defined that the British driver is making an effort to be taught, although he’s not taking any formal lessons. As an alternative, he can be specializing in studying phrases.
Lewis Hamilton is about to collaborate with Riccardo Adami, a extremely skilled engineer, as his race engineer at Ferrari, marking the top of his longstanding partnership with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes, which spanned over a decade. This transformation can be important for Lewis Hamilton, as will probably be the primary time in his F1 profession that he’ll work with a race engineer whose first language shouldn’t be English. Regardless of the potential language barrier, Adami brings a wealth of expertise to the desk, having labored with notable drivers equivalent to Sebastian Vettel and, extra not too long ago, Carlos Sainz.
As Hamilton embarks on this new chapter with Ferrari, Anthony Davidson expressed optimism that the transfer might reignite the “magic” for Lewis Hamilton, particularly after his visibly disheartened efficiency throughout the latter a part of his ultimate races with Mercedes. The hope is that the recent surroundings and new dynamic inside the Ferrari staff will present Hamilton with the motivation and power wanted to regain his aggressive edge.
Looking forward to the 2025 season, Hamilton can be keen to hold ahead the progress Ferrari made with their 2024 automotive. The staff achieved some promising breakthroughs in direction of the top of the season, and Hamilton can be hopeful that these enhancements may be constructed upon within the upcoming yr. With 2025 being the ultimate yr earlier than the most important rule modifications in 2026, this might be a pivotal season for Hamilton as he goals to profit from the present rules and additional solidify his legacy within the sport.