Lewis Hamilton may face challenges in matching Charles Leclerc’s performance at Ferrari when he moves to Maranello in the upcoming season. Leclerc, who is currently with Ferrari, has 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 performed 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 fast, particularly during qualifying sessions. Therefore, Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has the potential to deliver thrilling on-track action between the British driver and Leclerc.
Furthermore, Fisichella claimed 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 constructor over the past few years would make it challenging for the F1 veteran, Hamilton, to surpass him at Ferrari.
Hamilton spent 13 years with Mercedes before joining Maranello. Many anticipated that the transition to the Italian constructor would be difficult for him. However, Fisichella held a different perspective. The former Ferrari driver believed that Hamilton would easily adapt to Ferrari and praised the team’s atmosphere and crew at Maranello.
In addition, Fisichella advised Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, to focus solely on racing while representing Ferrari. He suggested that spending ample 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 as a Silver Arrow for the final time under Mercedes in 2024. The 39-year-old 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 reveal how the team performs against their competitors during the 2024 season.