Lewis Hamilton may face challenges in matching Charles Leclerc’s performance at Ferrari when he moves to Maranello next season. Leclerc, who is currently at Ferrari, had a disappointing start to the 2024 campaign in his final year with Mercedes. The seven-time world champion, Hamilton, failed to secure a podium finish in the first two races, while Leclerc fared better. As a result, former Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella shared his thoughts on the anticipated battle between the two drivers after Hamilton’s move to Maranello.
Fisichella expressed that the competition between Hamilton and Leclerc would be fierce. He acknowledged that both drivers were exceptional and quick, especially during qualifying sessions. Therefore, Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has the potential to provide exciting on-track action between the British driver and Leclerc.
Furthermore, Fisichella stated that Leclerc would consistently outperform Hamilton and highlighted the numerous pole positions achieved by the 26-year-old Monegasque driver. Additionally, Fisichella emphasized that Leclerc’s experience with the Italian team in recent years would make it challenging for F1 veteran Hamilton to surpass him at Ferrari.
Hamilton spent 13 years at Mercedes before joining Maranello. Many anticipated that the transition to the Italian team would be difficult for him. However, Fisichella had a different perspective. The former Ferrari driver believed that Hamilton would easily adapt to Ferrari and praised the atmosphere and team at Maranello.
Furthermore, Fisichella advised Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, to focus exclusively on racing while representing Ferrari. He suggested that spending enough time at the Maranello factory and maintaining high levels of concentration would lead to excellent results for Hamilton within the team. Fostering a strong bond with the mechanics would also contribute to Hamilton’s success at Ferrari.
Hamilton will compete for the last time as a Silver Arrow for Mercedes in 2024. The 39-year-old driver has expressed his desire to end the season on a high note. However, considering the current state of the Brackley team, it seems unlikely that they will achieve significant victories. Only time will tell how the team will fare against their competitors during the 2024 season.
