Lewis Hamilton tipped to be ‘serious contender’ at Ferrari after dip in ‘mojo’ at Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton competed in Italy for the first time since his transfer to Ferrari was confirmed, with his debut race taking place in Imola.

Former team principal Eddie Jordan has predicted “fireworks” for Lewis Hamilton when he joins Ferrari, and believes he will give an “almighty crack” at the F1 2025 World Championship.

Next season, Hamilton will join Ferrari to form a star-studded driver line-up alongside Charles Leclerc. In addition to this, the seven-time World Champion will reunite with his former team boss, Fred Vasseur, with whom he collaborated during his time in the junior categories.

Lewis Hamilton tipped to be ‘serious contender’ after Ferrari move

Hamilton hasn’t secured a race victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking the longest losing streak in his eminent career. Mercedes has only won once in the ground-effect era, thanks to George Russell’s victory in Brazil in 2022.

Hamilton and Russell have consistently achieved podium finishes, with Mercedes securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship last season. However, this year has proved more challenging for the eight-time Constructors’ champions, who are presently ranked fourth in the standings.

With a change of scene coming after more than a decade with the team, former team owner Jordan believes this comes at an opportune time for Hamilton , with his move to Ferrari a chance to work at a “magic place” in Formula 1.

Jordan explained on the Formula For Success podcast, “I believe he had exhausted his mojo at Mercedes and needed a fresh start elsewhere.”

Often, when people are under intense time pressure and stress, they need to find a different set of guidelines to function – and I believe that’s why Lewis ended up there.

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Honestly, I don’t think it’s about contracts or money. I believe he wants to end his career at Ferrari because it’s a magical place to be.

He plans to move to Italy, a decision I can comprehend. He also aims to become fluent in the language which I believe are all crucial aspects. Without these, he won’t be able to fully integrate into the Ferrari community.

Is it possible for him to secure a World Championship in the future? They appear to be extremely capable. Fred Vasseur has won our admiration because it seems that he has brought a certain magical tranquility to the team.

“If you can observe, it’s somewhat similar to what McLaren is implementing – which is gradually gaining on the monkey, represented by Red Bull.

They are gradually improving, which is fantastic for us as we’ll likely witness more high-quality races. Ideally, we won’t have to see Max racing far ahead by 20 or 30 seconds.

David Coulthard, Jordan’s co-host and a 13-time grand prix winner, questioned whether Hamilton could overcome the “natural curve” of driving beyond his 40s, especially with Leclerc as his teammate.

Coulthard expressed his desire to witness a competitive race at Scuderia next year. He indicated that he would be thrilled to see Hamilton perform at his peak. However, he also warned that the challenge posed by Leclerc from the other side of the garage will be a formidable one.

“Coulthard asked Jordan, “What are your thoughts on how he’s going to co-exist with Charles Leclerc?”

I’ve expressed before that Charles, at 27 and being one of the fastest individuals, will pose a significant challenge for Lewis, who will be turning 40.

I’m not doubting Lewis’ brilliance, it’s just the typical trajectory of someone’s career.

“I have to think that Lewis has reached a level of experience, but I find it hard to believe that he’s becoming faster at his age.”

“I understand that this may disappoint Lewis’ fans, but I would undoubtedly be thrilled to see him defy age. It’s anticipated to be a tight competition between him and Charles.”

Jordan then expressed his belief that Hamilton could be a “serious contender” for an eighth World Championship title, forecasting that he will make a significant effort to achieve this before Formula 1’s regulations change in 2026.

“He said, “I disagree with your opinion. I firmly believe that the new rules will not be implemented by ’25. Therefore, he will effectively be driving the car he has this year.”

I believe that at 39, when Lewis puts on red overalls, it’s reminiscent of when he left McLaren for Mercedes. The impact is just like fireworks.

“I believe Lewis has strong potential to be a major competitor in the World Championship. I assure you, he will put forth an immense effort next year before ’26.”

“Anything can happen.”

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