F1 legend Lewis Hamilton issued brutal WARNING by ex-Ferrari chief

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton issued brutal WARNING by ex-Ferrari chief

Lewis Hamilton has joined Ferrari

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Wednesday 15 January 2025 10:58

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Lewis Hamilton has been warned about the impacts of his popularity, as he gets set to make his Ferrari debut.

Hamilton's stunning move to Maranello sees a partnership between the most successful driver of all time and the most iconic and successful team in Formula 1 history.

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The Brit is a seven-time champion in the sport, a record he shares with another Ferrari legend in Michael Schumacher, who drove with the Scuderia between 1996-2006.

Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc, a driver pairing that Ferrari will hope can take them to their first championship title of any kind since 2008.

Keep an eye on the official Ferrari website for exclusive Hamilton and Leclerc 2025 merch.

Lewis Hamilton is officially a Ferrari driver

How will Ferrari fans welcome Lewis Hamilton?

Will Hamilton succeed at Ferrari?

Hamilton's 12-season spell with Mercedes yielded a stunning six drivers' titles and 84 grands prix victories, making it the most successful driver-team combination in the history of the sport.

However, the last three seasons of the partnership saw just two grands prix victories, and Hamilton's 2024 season in particular will go down as a pretty dismal one.

Now, former Ferrari chief John Barnard has suggested that Hamilton's move to Ferrari may cause some problems, due to the added scrutiny stars face when they join the Maranello outfit. Barnard worked with the Ferrari team in the 80s and 90s, for the most part as technical director.

"I’m interested to see what happens when Lewis Hamilton goes there," Barnard told MotorSport Magazine.

"I don’t think he’s as quick as Charles Leclerc, but he’s still a decent racing driver, and he understands how to win championships - not by winning every race but by consistently scoring points. I wonder, too, what happens if the car doesn’t suit him because at Ferrari it doesn’t take long for them to turn on you.

"It’s hard to explain but the Italian media puts pressure on the team, week in week out, and that’s tough to deal with."

Click here to purchase the replica Ferrari baseball cap so you can rep the Scuderia just in time for Hamilton’s arrival!

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Formula 1 Charles Leclerc Michael Schumacher