On February 1st, Hamilton shocked the world of motorsport by announcing his departure from Mercedes after 12 years to join Ferrari in 2025. The start of the season has seen Ferrari dominate, leaving the seven-time world champion in a strong position to increase his impressive record of 103 race wins. However, Flavio Briatore predicts that Hamilton will struggle to outperform his teammate at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, next year. Briatore, former F1 team boss, believes Ferrari must improve their competitiveness to have a chance at the title. He also praises the performance of young British driver Oliver Bearman, who impressed in his F1 debut in Saudi Arabia, finishing ahead of Hamilton.
Looking ahead to the 2024 F1 season, Briatore acknowledges that Red Bull is currently the dominant force in the sport. He applauds the skill and consistency of Max Verstappen, comparing the combination of Verstappen and Red Bull to legendary partnerships like Senna and McLaren, Alonso and Benetton, and Schumacher and Ferrari. Briatore believes that this level of dominance is not healthy for Formula 1 and hopes to see more competition from teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin.
Overall, Briatore’s assessment suggests that Hamilton may face challenges in his first year with Ferrari, especially from his teammate Leclerc. He emphasizes the importance of a competitive car and believes Ferrari must improve to have a chance at the championship. Additionally, he highlights the impressive performance of young driver Oliver Bearman and expresses concern about Red Bull’s current dominance in the sport.
