Since the February announcement that Lewis Hamilton had signed with Ferrari for the 2025 season onwards, there has been questions that the Brit may not be able to adapt to the Ferrari culture as well as someone like Charles Leclerc.
After spending the last 12 years with British-based team Mercedes, and 6 years prior to that with British-based team McLaren, the question remains on whether Hamilton will be able to quickly adapt to the Italian based team, and the culture surrounding it.
Ferrari and their Italian fanbase, the Tifosi, are known for their die-hard and for many of them, Ferrari is not just a team, but a way of life.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff thinks everything will be absolutely fine. The Austrian commented on the culture, stating that although Ferrari is a team with large amounts of passion and therefore pressure, he believes “they are going to find a way of working with each other”.
“I think many people say that it’s going to be really difficult. But I think if you say it’s going to be really difficult, then often it’s the opposite.
“Ferrari is a great team, great people, lots of emotion and passion and therefore it’s pressure. But I believe they are going to find a way of working with each other.”
Hamilton himself has also brushed off the speculation on whether a move to Ferrari is the right move for him earlier this year.
“There’s not been a moment where I’ve questioned it, and I’m not swayed by other people’s comments.”
He followed this statement up, mentioning that, “even today, there’s people continuing to talk s***, and it will continue on for the rest of the year,” as well as “I’ll have to just do what I did in the previous time. Only you can know what was right for you. And it will be an exciting time for me.”
With Hamilton’s Mercedes departure, the team has announced young gun Andrea Kimi Antonelli to be his replacement next year, with Wolff noting that although the emotional connection to Hamilton will likely endure, he is welcoming of a drive shake up.
“I think we had such a great run with Lewis over the last 12 years, he’s always going to be part of the family,” said Wolff. “But obviously, as a competitor, when we try to beat him next year, Kimi joining George clearly brings momentum with it, plus youth and freshness.
Wolff is aware that Hamilton’s years of experience would have continued to prove beneficial to the team next year, but he has also made it clear that he does not doubt the seven-time World Champion’s ability to adapt at Ferrari.
