The Lewis Hamilton-Ferrari partnership has kicked off with unexpected turbulence, as a pre-season crash in Italy was reportedly caused by a brake failure—not driver error.
Despite Ferrari staying tight-lipped on the issue, a London Insider source revealed that the team is deliberately keeping details under wraps to avoid early embarrassment.
“Lewis’ crash was due to a brake failure, no mistake from his side. Ferrari are keeping quiet to avoid embarrassment at the start of their partnership with him,” the source claimed.
Ferrari has yet to respond to these allegations, but the incident cost Hamilton and Charles Leclerc valuable track time—not the ideal start for a team looking to end its 16-year championship drought.
David Croft: “This Is Hamilton’s Best Shot at Title No. 8”
Despite the shaky start, Sky UK journalist David Croft believes this season offers Hamilton his strongest opportunity to finally break Michael Schumacher’s record with an eighth world title.
“I would say this could be Lewis’s best chance to secure his eighth world title, as the season may not see teams bringing updates week after week,” Croft stated.
His reasoning? Regulatory changes looming in 2026. Croft speculates that many top teams, including Red Bull and Mercedes, will prioritize long-term development over short-term gains, giving Ferrari a unique “win now” advantage.
“Among the four top teams, Ferrari will be the most eager to maximize the 2025 season. It’s been a long time since they last won anything, and they want to prove that Lewis is the right man, as well as Charles.”
Ferrari’s Next Moves: SF-25 Shakedown and Bahrain Testing
Hamilton will return to the cockpit next week, piloting a ‘mule’ version of the SF-24 as Ferrari assists Pirelli’s 2026 tyre testing program at Circuit de Catalunya. The team will also trial a Monza-style low-downforce setup.
But the real test begins on February 26, when Ferrari’s SF-25 challenger hits the track for official pre-season testing in Bahrain. That leads straight into Hamilton’s highly anticipated Ferrari debut at the Australian Grand Prix on March 14.
Can Hamilton Deliver the Ultimate Redemption Story?
After three seasons of frustration at Mercedes, is Ferrari finally giving Hamilton the car he needs to reclaim F1 glory? If Croft’s prediction holds true, this season could see the seven-time world champion silence the doubters once and for all.
One thing’s for sure—when Hamilton rolls up to Melbourne in Ferrari red, the entire motorsport world will be watching.
