Sir Jackie Stewart believes Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari shouldn’t be dominated out of F1 title competition this season.
The seven-time world champion has made a bombshell swap to Ferrari for 2025 after 12 illustrious seasons with Mercedes, with whom he received six of his seven world championships.
With Hamilton becoming a member of Charles Leclerc, Ferrari will boast arguably the strongest driver line-up on the F1 grid this yr.
Ferrari hope Hamilton’s arrival can assist return them to profitable methods in F1, having gone 17 years since their final constructors’ championship triumph in 2008.
The Italian outfit got here near claiming the constructors’ world title final yr, however had been pipped by rivals McLaren, lacking out on the crown by simply 14 factors.
Three-time world champion Stewart admitted he was “stunned” by Hamilton’s resolution to affix Ferrari, however feels they are going to be in competition in 2025.
“He’s extra skilled than he was final yr and the years earlier than that, he is aware of the enterprise very properly,” Stewart informed Sky Sports activities F1.
“Ferrari is the largest identify on the earth. Should you went to a Masai warrior in the midst of Africa and mentioned, ‘Have you learnt something about Ferrari?’ They might know the identify Ferrari.
“For Lewis, I used to be stunned he was going there.
“Going to Ferrari may be very vibrant, very thrilling and normally very profitable. I wouldn’t depend them out, to place it that means.”
2025 Hamilton’s ‘greatest likelihood’ for eighth title
Hamilton has been informed that the upcoming 2025 season may very well be his greatest likelihood of profitable a record-breaking eighth world title.
Such a feat wouldn’t solely finish Ferrari’s drought and not using a championship trophy however would additionally see Hamilton transfer away from the legendary Michael Schumacher within the F1 document books.
In response to Sky Sports activities F1 commentator David Croft, 2025 may be Hamilton’s greatest wager earlier than the laws are reset for 2026.
“What I might say is that this may be Lewis’ greatest likelihood of an eighth World title,” Croft mentioned on the Autosport Awards.
“Given the season that it may very well be by way of groups received’t be throwing developments week after week after week, as a result of they’ve bought 2026 to consider.
“I do assume Ferrari would be the most eager to get essentially the most out of 2025 of the large 4 groups as a result of it’s so lengthy since they received one thing.
“They usually need to show that Lewis is the correct man and or Charles [Leclerc] as properly.”
