Can Lewis Hamilton lead Ferrari back to the title in 2025? Formula 1 expert Gary Anderson doubts and warns of tensions with Charles Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in the 2025 Formula One season has been the subject of discussion since the Briton announced before the start of the current season that he would leave Mercedes at the end of the year to join the Scuderia in the future.
Formula-1-expert Gary Anderson is critical of the move, especially because Ferrari has a very different way of working to Hamilton’s previous teams.
“Ferrari works very differently from what Lewis is used to,” he explains in the podcast Formula for Success. ”He comes from a structured, clear environment at McLaren and Mercedes – and Ferrari is a completely different world. It’s a family-oriented culture in Italy, and that will be very, very difficult for him.”
Anderson also doubts that Hamilton alone can get Ferrari back on the road to success. “If they see Lewis as the ‘god’ who will get them out of all their problems, then I think it’s madness,” says the long-time Formula 1 designer.
“It doesn’t work like that. You can’t just flip a switch. It’s more like a dimmer – Ferrari has to slowly turn it up, make the car more competitive and give the drivers the tools they need.”
2024 was a mixed season for Hamilton and Mercedes, while Ferrari showed both light and shade. “They won in Monaco – fantastic! – and then in Monza too. This shows that the potential is there. But consistency is lacking. They need to take a long, hard look at themselves and see where they stand with the car.”
Anderson sees the dynamic between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as another potential source of conflict. Leclerc, the current star of Ferrari, is a fast driver with the potential to win championships. However, if Ferrari sees Hamilton as a “savior,” they could run the risk of neglecting Leclerc.
“Leclerc is fast, no question. He has the potential to be a multiple race winner and maybe even a championship winner,” Anderson looks ahead.
“But if Ferrari favors Hamilton and Leclerc is only second choice, they will regret it,” he warns the Scuderia of mismanagement. “They’ve always had a great driver on the team – they just needed to support him more.”
Ultimately, Anderson believes that the key to success for Ferrari lies in teamwork. “It will depend on giving both drivers equal opportunities and creating a solid base for the future. Otherwise, they risk the change backfiring,” analyzes the Formula 1 expert.