Source – Essentiallysports
Toto Wolff, the former team manager of Lewis Hamilton, has predicted that the champion will lose at Ferrari in 2025.
In a seismic shift that reverberated through the Formula 1 world, Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari sent shockwaves across the paddock. The seven-time world champion, who has become synonymous with Mercedes’ dominance, announced his surprising switch last year, setting 2024 as his final season with the Silver Arrows. What many hoped would be a triumphant swansong turned into a season to forget, as Hamilton endured his worst performance since entering the sport, finishing a disheartening seventh in the drivers’ standings, trailing behind his younger teammate George Russell.
The 2024 season was riddled with challenges for the 40-year-old Briton. His struggles in qualifying became a glaring issue, leading to a rare moment of vulnerability after the Qatar Grand Prix, where he candidly admitted, “I am no longer fast.” Such remarks highlighted the extent of Hamilton’s frustration, as the once-dominant force in Formula 1 found himself grappling with a car that seemed unwilling to bend to his will.
As Hamilton prepares to don the famous Ferrari red, the question lingers: can he clinch the elusive eighth world title? Despite his underwhelming final year with Mercedes, many in the sport hold on to the belief that a change of scenery might reignite the fire within Hamilton, propelling him back to the pinnacle of motorsport.
However, not everyone shares this optimism. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has guided Hamilton through years of unparalleled success, expressed doubts about his former star’s chances of capturing the championship in 2025. Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Wolff pointed to the current generation of ground effect cars as a major stumbling block for Hamilton. “This generation of car doesn’t suit Lewis,” Wolff explained. “He brakes late and drives the car aggressively into the corners. The car and the tires sometimes don’t forgive that. It’s more noticeable in qualifying than in the race.”
Wolff’s insights shed light on the technical challenges Hamilton faced during his last year at Mercedes, suggesting that the car’s characteristics clashed with his natural driving style. The Austrian downplayed the notion that Hamilton’s impending move to Ferrari had mentally impacted his performance. “There may have been other factors involved. I don’t think his head was already on his new team. Lewis is too professional for that,” Wolff insisted.
When asked about the impact of age on performance, Wolff was candid yet reassuring. He acknowledged the inevitability of physical decline but emphasized the ability of elite athletes like Hamilton to extend their prime. “That affects all of us. But I think that a top athlete like Lewis, who is completely focused on one thing, can put it aside for a long time,” he added, drawing a parallel to another veteran driver. “You can see it best in Fernando [Alonso]. With all his experience, he still drives a fast car. It’s similar with Lewis.”
As Hamilton embarks on this new chapter with Ferrari, the stakes have never been higher. The pressure to succeed in one of the most storied teams in Formula 1, combined with the desire to prove his doubters wrong, will undoubtedly fuel his competitive spirit. Whether he can overcome the challenges of adapting to a new team and a car that may not suit his driving style remains to be seen. But if history has taught us anything about Lewis Hamilton, it’s that counting him out would be a grave mistake.
