Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in 2016 in Abu Dhabi — Photo: © IMAGO

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Hamilton set for shock F1 challenge after legendary return unveiled

Hamilton might face a bit of a shock when he joins the grid with Ferrari in 2025

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Monday 23 December 2024 22:28 Updated: 01:04

Lewis Hamilton is set to face a shock return from an old foe in 2025, as he prepares to move to Ferrari.

Hamilton has decided to ditch Mercedes with whom he has been with since 2013, winning six drivers' titles and eight constructors' championships in that time.

F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton in MAJOR F1 demotion as key Ferrari details emerge

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The team won the constructors' championship in 2016 with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as their driver pairing, but Rosberg beat Hamilton to drivers' championship success in one of the most thrilling seasons in Formula 1 history.

Rosberg managed to finish second at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in a bitter blow to Hamilton who was searching for a third successive title with his team.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg raced together between 2013 and 2016

Hadjar resurrects huge Hamilton rivalry

Hamilton and Rosberg's rivalry over the course of the first three seasons of the hybrid era was fiercely fought, with the number six car of Rosberg providing one of the sternest team-mate tests Hamilton has faced in his legendary career.

That number six appears to be somewhat of a curse for Hamilton, as Nicholas Latifi adopted the number during his short spell in F1, eventually becoming the catalyst for Hamilton's last lap 2021 championship defeat at the hands of Max Verstappen.

Now, it's being reported that F1 newcomer Isack Hadjar will use the number six, when he joins the sport with VCARB in 2025.

Following a narrow defeat in the 2024 F2 championship, Hadjar has been promoted to F1, taking Liam Lawson's seat at VCARB as the Kiwi racer heads off to Red Bull.

Isack Hadjar has signed with VCARB for 2025

Hadjar and VCARB have now confirmed in a joint post via Instagram requested that the 20-year-old will use the number six as his racing number, marking the first time since the 2014 driver number rule change that a digit has been used by three different drivers.

Hamilton, who has recently been confirmed to be Hadjar's racing idol, will have to get used to his former rival's number being in use once more, with fans taking to social media to warn the seven-time champion of the curse.

"With Hadjar racing with number 6 next year, he'll either be a Latifi or a Rosberg. No in betweens," one user said.

"ISACK HADJAR IS TAKING #6????? My guy's so teamLH. He's trying to trick grandpa Lewis into thinking that he's Nico," another user commented.

With Hadjar racing with number 6 next year, he'll either be a Latifi or a Rosberg.

No in betweens. pic.twitter.com/zRtb4teqsU
— ＲＡ２５１１ 🇸🇬 (@The__RA2511) December 20, 2024

Isack Hadjar has selected #6 as his @F1 driver number, meaning #6 has become the first number under the current system introduced in 2014 to be allocated to three different drivers! (Excluding temporary/reserve numbers.)

Rosberg 2014-2016
Latifi 2020-2022
Hadjar 2025- pic.twitter.com/GhNfRyqxIK
— Larry Bartolomei (@larrybtheg) December 20, 2024

With Isack Hadjar taking number 6, we have a successor for Goatifi. What shall we call him?

👤 -Atlaz-#F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/CMulo88cH1
— formuladanker (@formuladanker) December 22, 2024

ISACK HADJAR IS TAKING #6????? my guy's so teamLH. he's trying to trick grandpa lewis into thinking that he's nico pic.twitter.com/OR1AkrjdRH
— vivi فيفي (@sinnerenjoyer) December 20, 2024

the child of brocedes…is real
— Le Mans🏎️ (@lauda_hamilton) December 21, 2024

Written by

Sam Cook - Digital Journalist

Sam Cook is a talented young sports journalist and social media professional who now specialises in Formula 1, having previously worked as a football journalist and a local news reporter for a variety of different brands.

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Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Nico Rosberg