Former Ferrari team manager Flavio Briatore believes that by 2025, Ferrari “must improve” or Lewis Hamilton’s “effort,” as he believes history has demonstrated, would become a problem.
Following his shocking revelation before of the F1 2024 campaign that he would be switching to Ferrari as a driver starting in 2025, Hamilton is currently in his final season competing for Mercedes.
“Doesn’t put effort in if car isn’t good enough,” says Lewis Hamilton.
When Hamilton gets to Maranello, he’ll see Carlos Sainz, the driver, looking for a new place to live, and Charles Leclerc on the other side of the garage.
But Hamilton has had a difficult start to Formula One 2024. At the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he has been outqualified by teammate George Russell and has finished behind him on race day. Hamilton has acknowledged that he is “not having fun” in the W15 thus far.
Even though Ferrari seems to have gotten off to a better start than Mercedes this season, Red Bull, the team that leads the championship, still has a sizable advantage thanks to three-time world champion Max Verstappen’s two 1-2 finishes so far.
Verstappen leads the race by an estimated “eight-tenths” of a lap, according to Briatore, who also claims that Hamilton “is one of those drivers who doesn’t put much effort into it if the car isn’t good” if Ferrari does not fix that, which may see Leclerc take the lead.
Ferrari is not suited for this role, even though they might be the second force, as Briatore reportedly stated to Italian network Rai 1. “The vehicle needs to get better. No driver can make a difference with those gaps.
Hamilton would act in the same manner as Leclerc, a quick driver who is sometimes underappreciated, if he were already employed by Ferrari today.
Because Charles is one of those drivers who doesn’t put much effort into it if the car isn’t fantastic, he can ultimately find it difficult to keep ahead of him.
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After his early problems, 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard questioned Hamilton’s devotion to this final Mercedes season. Briatore’s sentiments echo Coulthard’s.
Engine overheating problems both for Hamilton and Russell affected his P7 in Bahrain, but a P9 in Saudi Arabia compounded the problems.
He simply hasn’t been satisfied with this automobile, Coulthard stated on Channel 4.
“And it’s evident that George is currently perfecting his lap time, and Lewis is feeling vulnerable.”
What is certain, though, is that he will deliver if he can find a window of opportunity.
“However, it appears that he has already made the decision to go to Ferrari mentally at this point.”