Lewis Hamilton remains to be chasing F1 glory with Ferrari, regardless of a tough begin.
Lewis Hamilton remains to be chasing an eighth Drivers’ Championship title (Picture: Getty)
Jock Clear, Lewis Hamilton’s former efficiency engineer at Mercedes, believes that the seven-time world champion can nonetheless add one other to his assortment and finish Ferrari’s title drought, supplied he’s given time to adapt.
Hamilton arrived in Maranello hoping to change into the Scuderia’s first Drivers’ champion since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, however after profitable the dash race in Shanghai in spherical two of the 2025 marketing campaign, his kind steadily declined, and chronic qualifying struggles undermined his race tempo on Sundays.
The legendary Brit ended the season with out a podium end for the primary time in his glittering F1 profession, and completed over 80 factors behind team-mate Charles Leclerc within the standings. Many pundits began to put in writing Hamilton off, however the 41-year-old nonetheless harbours desires of changing into an eight-time world champion earlier than retiring from the game.
Chatting with CasinoHawks, Clear provided causes for optimism. “I remind people who when Michael [Schumacher] went to Ferrari, it took the group 5 years earlier than he received something,” he defined.
“It does not occur in a single day, and I mentioned to some individuals, kind of center of the season, I do know Lewis actually had a troublesome time final 12 months, coping with how tough the problem was. It is reassuring to remind individuals how tough F1 is.
“If Lewis arrived and simply received an eighth championship, it kind of demeans or belittles the game considerably. You take a look at Carlos [Sainz] at Williams, after 5 races, individuals have been like ‘oh, what’s occurred? I assumed he was going to blow Alex Albon away’.
The 2025 season was a wrestle for Hamilton (Picture: Getty)
“Take a look at him by the tip of the 12 months. It does not occur in a single day. I believe a part of that frustration for Lewis might be that he is aware of that. However, coming again to the highlight that Ferrari was beneath. So, he simply wants time.
“Lewis will not be going to surrender simply because 2025 was robust. He foresaw it being very robust. Hamilton will come again stronger and tougher subsequent 12 months, work on the event, and do every part he can do to see the challenge by way of.”
Ferrari have a novel alternative in 2026 as Fred Vasseur’s squad look to bounce again within the first 12 months of the brand new technical laws. Nonetheless, with optimistic noises popping out of the Mercedes camp, the legendary Italian constructor faces a nervous wait till pre-season testing begins later this month.
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Within the meantime, Hamilton has been having fun with a winter reset, taking time away from the highlight and social media to recharge with family and friends. The Stevenage-born driver celebrated his forty first birthday earlier this week whereas on a snowsports vacation in the US.
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