Mar.7 (GMM) All of the hype surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari is unlikely to translate right into a world championship.
That’s the view of Crimson Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko, who thinks McLaren is the clear favorite heading into Melbourne, with Crimson Bull on their heels.
“Ferrari is, in accordance with our calculations, the third strongest pressure, simply forward of Mercedes,” the Austrian instructed RTL.
“And in Bahrain, (Charles) Leclerc was clearly quicker than Hamilton. However that’s regular,” Marko defined. “He (Leclerc) is aware of the workforce, he is aware of the automobile.
“Hamilton drove a variety of laps and steadily improved, however he wasn’t fairly at Leclerc’s degree. However it’s early days.
“We all know that Hamilton can enhance supernaturally, nevertheless it may be the case that if the elements don’t line up and he sees no likelihood of successful, his motivation will drop somewhat.”
Ferrari workforce boss Frederic Vasseur admitted on the Milan road occasion on Thursday that the brand new 2025 automobile is “two or three tenths” off McLaren’s final tempo.
“They’re in a greater place than us,” he stated. “That is the final yr of the present rules and efficiency good points have gotten more and more troublesome to attain.
“It’s true that we scored probably the most factors within the final eight races of 2024, however they (McLaren) had an actual efficiency benefit that they didn’t exploit as a lot as they need to have attributable to small issues or missed alternatives.
“But when we are able to acquire two or three tenths, we’ll have each likelihood.”
Ralf Schumacher, in the meantime, thinks the comparisons between his older brother’s arrival at Ferrari in 1996 to Hamilton’s first season in purple are extensive of the mark.
“When Michael went to Ferrari, he was not solely the present world champion, but in addition the acknowledged finest driver. Neither of this stuff applies to Lewis anymore,” Ralf instructed Sky Deutschland.
“However, Michael nonetheless wanted 5 onerous years to win his first Ferrari title. Lewis doesn’t have that point.”
Schumacher additionally thinks the fickle Italian press will solely give Hamilton six months to rise up to hurry. “If issues aren’t going properly by then, all this euphoria will rapidly flip into criticism,” stated the German.
As for Leclerc, Vasseur sees no danger that the stress will even weigh notably closely on the 27-year-old’s shoulders this yr.
“From day one, I used to be satisfied that Charles would solely profit from Lewis’ arrival,” stated the Frenchman. “Perhaps it’s going to take some stress off him and he’ll be capable of focus extra on himself.”
Schumacher, in the meantime, agrees with those that suppose McLaren could possibly be about to knock Crimson Bull and Max Verstappen off their perches in 2025.
“Pierre Wache isn’t any Adrian Newey,” he stated. “Max must get used to the concept that every part ends sometime. I don’t suppose he has an opportunity this season, no.
“Perhaps it’s going to assist him resolve what to do subsequent, however both approach, it will likely be a troublesome resolution.”
