As the 2025 F1 season swings into gear, all eyes are squarely on Lewis Hamilton, whose switch to Ferrari has been likened to an “extended coronation as king of Ferrari.” This intriguing observation comes courtesy of Sky F1’s Craig Slater. However, Ted Kravitz, another voice from Sky F1, emphasizes that while Hamilton’s move to Ferrari might be shrouded in the unknown for new teammate Charles Leclerc, the latter is not about to roll out the red carpet for Hamilton by taking him lightly.
One of the most captivating narratives as we head into the new season is Hamilton’s monumental transition to Ferrari as he remains on the hunt for an unparalleled eighth World title. Despite this, the prevalent consensus within the F1 fraternity is that McLaren is poised to dominate at Albert Park, arriving as the most formidable team. This notion is fortified by a data analysis by PlanetF1.com’s resident expert Pablo Hidalgo, which reveals McLaren’s robust performance in race mode.
As the first race of F1 2025 approaches, McLaren’s Lando Norris is primed to make a victorious start to a year where he is considered a title contender. Echoing this sentiment, Ted Kravitz, Sky F1’s pit-lane reporter, notes that Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri is in excellent form and highly motivated, especially on his home ground.
However, the seasoned Hamilton should never be discounted, according to Kravitz. Hamilton’s prowess on the Albert Park circuit is well-documented. Winning the Australian Grand Prix doesn’t necessarily require pole position, as Hamilton demonstrated in his inaugural 2007 race, where he successfully overtook his McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso at Turn 1. As such, even a less-than-stellar qualifying round does not rule out a Hamilton victory in Australia.
Hamilton’s single-lap pace was a concern during his final season with Mercedes, where he lost to then teammate George Russell in a 19-5 qualifying face-off. As Hamilton embarks on this new chapter with Ferrari, he has skeptics to prove wrong.
At Ferrari, he faces Leclerc, who has been the poster boy of Ferrari, ascending through their junior ranks to F1 stardom as the team chases their first F1 title since 2008. Slater posed a question to Kravitz about Leclerc’s mindset given the perceived elevation of Hamilton to Ferrari’s throne.
Kravitz is certain Leclerc is aware of the substantial challenge ahead. Leclerc has had a close look at Hamilton over the past months, understanding his driving style and approach. Despite Hamilton still learning the intricacies of Ferrari’s car, Leclerc would be making a grave mistake underestimating Hamilton’s racecraft. Leclerc is keenly aware of the kind of teammate he will face at the Australian Grand Prix, and is prepared for the challenge.
