On the cusp of his highly anticipated Ferrari debut at the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton may find himself walking a precarious path towards a podium finish. This speculation, courtesy of Sky F1’s renowned pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz, stems from the formidable speed of Mercedes, potentially enough to eclipse Hamilton’s moment in the Italian sun.
Hamilton, who invoked his release clause with Mercedes prior to the 2024 season to ink a deal with Ferrari, is on the brink of his inaugural race with the Scuderia. This occasion marks a significant return for Albert Park, which will host the F1 2025 season opener for the first time since 2019.
The pre-season three-day test in Bahrain offered a sneak peek into the new season’s competitive hierarchy. According to PlanetF1.com’s in-house data wizard Pablo Hidalgo, McLaren emerged as a formidable contender, displaying exceptional prowess in race mode. This sentiment is echoed by Kravitz who also hints at Mercedes being a close pursuer with their W16 model.
Kravitz, in conversation with his Sky F1 compatriot Craig Slater, did not rule out Mercedes maintaining their impressive testing performance throughout a significant part of the season. He said, “Don’t be surprised if we see George Russell on the podium in Melbourne. If McLaren is indeed the fastest car, we could possibly see a Norris Piastri, Piastri Norris one-two finish with Russell securing third place.”
However, the focus doesn’t solely rest on Russell. Kravitz also cast the spotlight on Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s new teammate at Mercedes. Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian prodigy, was roped in from Mercedes’ own ranks to replace Hamilton, following a glittering junior career.
Kravitz quipped, “Watch out for Kimi Antonelli. It’s fantastic to have an Italian back in Formula 1. While all eyes are on Hamilton’s shift from Mercedes to Ferrari, it could be an Italian driver, albeit not from Ferrari, who might clinch a podium finish.”
He further emphasized the rapid pace of the Mercedes, placing it just behind the McLarens in terms of grid position, and possibly ahead of the Ferraris in the early stages.
With the stage set for an exhilarating season, will Hamilton’s Ferrari debut be upstaged by a young Italian in a Mercedes? Only time will tell.
