Will Lewis Hamilton win his eighth title with Ferrari?

Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for the 2025 season sent shockwaves through Formula 1. After an impressive 12-year journey at Mercedes, with seven championships under his belt.

But the big question everyone’s asking is: Can Hamilton pull off an eighth title with Scuderia?

Hamilton’s 2024 season with Mercedes has been a polar opposite to his usual performance. He faced some tough competition, not only from his rivals but also from his teammate, George Russell.

The Mercedes car, which was once a reliable beast, seems to be struggling with a few issues affecting its overall performance.

One of the major issues Hamilton has been dealing with is the car’s “bouncing” effect, which throws it off balance, especially in high-speed corners. Despite trying various setup changes, the bouncing issue persists, making it a real challenge for Hamilton to maintain control of the track.

“We have pretty bad bouncing which we’ve not been able to fix. We made changes overnight and the car felt so much better in FP3 earlier today. It felt difficult again in qualifying. We tried every set-up change but we just can’t get rid of the bouncing.” — Hamilton.

The unstable rear end of the car is another issue, combined with a desire for more downforce after a challenging practice session at the Saudi Arabian GP.

From a seat issue to engine failures and reliability issues, each setback is costing him valuable points on the track.

On the other hand, Ferrari has been showing great promise this season. Their cars are lightning fast, securing commanding 1–2 finishes in the opening races.

This has some experts, like former driver Giancarlo Fisichella, cautiously optimistic about Hamilton’s chances, estimating his shot at a title to be around 30–40%.

There’s reason for optimism, though. Hamilton is known for his phenomenal driving skills and adaptability.

A switch to Ferrari could be the push he needs to push his limits even further. Also, with a potentially championship-winning car, Hamilton has the chance to rewrite history and solidify his position.

But winning won’t be easy.

Ferrari hasn’t secured a championship since 2008. They’ll need to provide Hamilton with a consistently reliable car and team support throughout the season. Also, internally he’ll face stiff competition from his future teammate Charles Leclerc to be the team’s dominant driver.

But with the spec of the 2024 car, new engine, and chassis regulations, teams are reworking their cars and trying to build a better one. With this shift, the playing field is being leveled a bit- this might just be an opportunity for Ferrari.

It’ll be interesting to see who adapts better than Red Bull, who have been dominating the sport with Max Verstappen, and they could find themselves with a significant advantage.

Yet, Red Bull stands as a formidable adversary, with a history of dominance led by star driver Max Verstappen. RB cars are incredibly fast, leaving other teams, including Mercedes, struggling to keep pace. They have been on a tear for the past few seasons, racking up championships and race wins.

However, their momentum was interrupted until recently when Verstappen’s car went up in flames during the Australian GP while leading the race.

But Verstappen isn’t one to give up. After topping the timesheets in Friday’s opening practice session and pole in qualifying, he had a great start to the weekend.

Will Verstappen continue his winning streak?

Only time will tell what happens next…

Wrapping Up

I’m bullish on Lewis — he’s a talented driver.

And for him to succeed, several key elements must align. Firstly, he needs a competitive car — a machine that can match his skill and hunger to win. Secondly, a team that believes in him, and that eighth title is definitely within reach.

Whether Hamilton wins with the Ferrari depends on whether they can continue to maintain their current form. And if Hamilton can seamlessly integrate into a new team environment? And will he be able to outshine the Starboy?

I truly hope Hamilton retires with an eighth championship to his name– making the most of the remaining years of his career and ending on a high note.

Image credits:

• © Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
• @planetf1.com
• Mercedes-AMG Petronas