Ferrari Targets Eighth Title With Hamilton's 2025 F1 Campaign
Aug.20 - Lewis Hamilton could be the key to a successful world championship campaign in his very first season at Ferrari in 2025.
That is the confident prediction of Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who during a recent visit to the Olympic Games in Paris was asked whether it was difficult to convince the seven-time world champion to leave Mercedes.
"Some things happen very quickly," the 48-year-old, who is the chosen heir of the powerful Agnelli empire in Italy, told Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
"This was the moment when he and Ferrari found each other. He wants to win the eighth title, Ferrari wants to win, and with Lewis we are stronger," Elkann added. "He doesn't come to Ferrari to enjoy his retirement.
"It's important to have motivated people around, who want to win."
Signing 39-year-old Hamilton, however, resulted in the ousting of Ferrari's in-form and decade-younger incumbent Carlos Sainz - who has now signed with Williams for 2025.
"It is tragic that he is having his best season at Ferrari and is not getting a seat in a top team," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, who brought Sainz into F1 at the same time as Max Verstappen, told Speed Week.
"But things should be moving forward at Williams, he has a strong engine there too. And apparently there is a clause in his contract that allows him to leave if an offer comes from a much better placed team," Marko added.
It will be Hamilton, however, who is almost certain to be much closer to the very front of the field in 2025.
"In Formula 1, there is real competition now, with four teams all very close - Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes," Elkann continued.
"It is important to always go to the maximum of your potential, and those with more experience have more consistency, as demonstrated by Hamilton and also (Fernando) Alonso. And this consistency counts."
Elkann insists he is not worried about Hamilton's age, or his regular suggestions that retirement is now looming somewhere on the horizon.
"I think of Djokovic, Federer, Ronaldo, Messi, Paltrinieri, and the thought that with sacrifice and dedication, you can overcome the physical limits of age," said the Italian, chairman not only of Ferrari but also Stellantis and Exor.
"It is also true that we are in a historical phase in which we live longer and the careers of athletes are lengthening."
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
I love these stories, more exciting than the actual season in progress.
At least Ferrari are doing what a few other teams should be doing. Switching the number 2 out for one who might make number 1.
The one about Newey to Alpine too - there's a thought to conjure with.
Elkann is certainly a dreamer!
But I suppose if you don't have a dream to push then you won't be able to justify your position and your salary plus.
But how long will it take for Elkann to wake?
Dont know about dreams but if the Dancing Queen turns into the Drama Queen (part 2), then as he was the one who pushed for it....
I still don't get it, MV is reigning wdc & still every one goes on about sir Lulu winning his eighth wdc title, hell do I get fed up with the backing that guy gets, there's 20 drivers racing & how many has won a race let alone a championship ,, just winds me up, he's winged, sulked, cried, like a baby the last few years & still sorry I can't say anymore. Why don't sir lulu retire for the sake of F1.
In through the nose, out by the mouth .....
Wow that’s some winge Donalf! Why can’t I support MV?
2021 gifted wdc by Masi who got sacked for it.
2022/2023 zero car competition.
2024 Being shown up for what he is by a whole raft of other drivers including old man LH
Plus rude, aggressive , dangerous and thinks he’s gods gift,never apologises, classic narcissist.
Oh and JV’s son.🤮
Funny thing is Bol I don't support MV either, l support king George but MVis currently today's Wdc sir Lulu's had years of ass wiping let him sort his self out like other drivers have to. There that's it.
spot on Bol, problem is the haters are gonna hate
Shrop - that's perfect! "Dancing Queen" - I can hear the Bee Gee's now, and see him gyrating in his white suit and purple shirt open to the navel. Oops, I mean his pink chiffon and heels....
I agree - if Lulu starts in on his worldly angst or BLM BS at Ferrari, and doesn't live up to his billing on top of it, I wonder if the Italian's will be as patient as the Germans have been.
Zero car competition ahhh those were the days 2014 to 2020, as for 21 the season decided the wdc not one race that made A girl cry i think ill go on , super-licence penalty points valid for 24 , oh guess what LH 4 MV 4, Competitors complaining about a rival , what, no ,never, surely not ,Gods gift, well thats pot and silver/black/silver/black , guess whats going to be broadcast over the Red team team radio in 25, Charles is faster than you, Charles is faster than you confirm..! Oh its so easy..!
Have I got it wrong, I thought the driver with the most points after the last race decided the wc.
Max deserved the 21 WDC based on the whole season. How many points did he lose because of Merc drivers. HAM should have been disqualified from the Silverstone race.
Merc had 7 years of car dominance 2014 - 2020 HAM won 6 WDC's and NIco won 1.
They had far longer car dominance than Red Bu.
Rb have existed for just 19yrs, and won 8 wdc and 6 (at least) wcc ,and made every other team look very silly in the process. whilst selling pop
And Christian Horner has been at the top from the start, what he doesn’t need is the Verstappens and all their crap.
Gloat while ye may
Fizzy drinks go flat
There's a big upset coming within a year or three
I can feel it in me bones
Just making the observation, that while Zak and Torger are claiming to be superstars, recent history tells the real story of success
Wait a few days and we'll have really recent history HA HA Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha he he he he he