In just three days, Lewis Hamilton will make his official debut with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion shocked the motorsport world by announcing his decision to leave Mercedes, where he had just signed a new contract, to join the Scuderia. This move came after months of speculation, and the announcement set the stage for what is expected to be a challenging final year with Mercedes, both personally and professionally.
Toto Wolff, Hamilton’s former boss at Mercedes, had strong reactions when the news broke. Wolff recalled hearing rumors about Hamilton’s move a few days before the official announcement but waited for their scheduled breakfast meeting to confirm the news. “The surprise was that I heard the rumors earlier, but I waited for our breakfast on Wednesday morning when he broke the news,” Wolff said. He expressed understanding for Hamilton’s situation but noted that they would discuss whether the timing of the announcement could have been handled differently. “I hold no grudge,” Wolff added.
Hamilton faced one of his toughest seasons in Formula 1 after making the big announcement. Despite breaking his 56-race win drought, his performance was far from ideal. Finishing seventh in the drivers’ championship marked his worst placement ever. However, Hamilton maintained a solid working relationship with the team, accepting responsibility for his performance by admitting, “maybe I’m just not fast anymore.” This statement raised concerns for Ferrari, but the team warmly welcomed him for his first visit to their headquarters in Maranello.
As teams prepare for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix, Wolff reflected on his thoughts about seeing Hamilton in Ferrari colors. “In these fast-paced times, you get used to it quickly. For me, it’s become a normal picture,” Wolff said. Yet, Wolff couldn’t help but poke fun at Hamilton’s attire for his Ferrari arrival. “I tried to get you into a suit for 12 years, and now you wear one on day one at Ferrari,” he joked. They both shared a laugh over the moment.
Despite their personal connection, the competitive rivalry will be intense on the track this weekend. “On the personal side, I wish him only the best. On the race track, we want to beat him,” Wolff stated. As pre-season testing raised questions about the performance of various teams, Wolff admitted that the power dynamics are still unclear. “After Bahrain tests, four teams are pretty much on par with each other, with a slight advantage for Norris. In race simulations, McLaren leads, with Verstappen, us, and Ferrari just behind,” Wolff explained.
McLaren currently stands as the favorite among pundits, though the debate continues on the ranking of the other top teams. Some analysts believe Mercedes is slightly ahead of Ferrari, citing the W16’s consistency and the confidence it gave drivers like George Russell and rookie Antonelli. While Mercedes’ long-run pace seemed similar to Ferrari’s, their car balance has improved significantly since the new ground effect car regulations came into effect in 2022. However, issues with front brake locking need to be resolved before the race.
Russell described the Bahrain test as “seamless,” indicating a positive atmosphere within the Mercedes team. The unusually cold weather in Bahrain may have also played into Mercedes’ favor, as their previous cars performed better in such conditions. Last year, in the cold of Las Vegas, Mercedes claimed a 1-2 finish, with Russell taking the win.
Despite this, veteran F1 journalist Ted Kravitz believes Ferrari may have the upper hand over Mercedes, although he acknowledged the battle could be “very finely poised.” Melbourne, known for its unpredictable nature, might offer Hamilton hope for a strong performance, even though he has only won the Australian Grand Prix twice in his career.
The Melbourne race has often been a tricky one, with only Nico Rosberg (2014, 2016) and Sebastian Vettel (2017, 2018) winning it twice in the past decade. Last year, Carlos Sainz benefited from a Verstappen brake failure to take the win. With such unpredictability, Hamilton could still come out on top, but the early days at Ferrari are sure to pose challenges.
Sebastian Vettel, who spent much of his career with Ferrari, shared advice for Hamilton, saying the transition to a new team will be one of his biggest challenges. “It’s big. Anyone who changes teams faces a big shift. New people, new culture—it’s all part of the challenge,” Vettel said. The four-time world champion highlighted that the Italian team’s culture is quite different from the English-based teams that dominate Formula 1.
Hamilton’s main challenge will be recapturing his speed, especially in qualifying. Last season, he lost 19-5 in qualifying to his Mercedes teammate, George Russell. To stay competitive at Ferrari, Hamilton will need to perform better in qualifying, especially with teammate Charles Leclerc, who has already secured 26 pole positions in his career, often with a car that wasn’t the best on the grid.
Saturday’s qualifying session in Melbourne will be crucial for Hamilton, but he has proven his racecraft in the past, notably finishing from 10th to second in Las Vegas last year.
In other F1 news, the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was marred by technical issues and logistical challenges. The event was heavily hyped, but things went wrong when a loose drain cover destroyed Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari during the first practice session. As a result, the session was abandoned, and the event had to be rescheduled, leading to a chaotic situation with fans being evicted from the grandstands.
As the F1 season kicks off, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari will be one of the most talked-about storylines, and the unpredictable nature of the Melbourne race could offer him the opportunity to make a strong statement in his new team.
