Ex-F1 champion claims Ferrari could push Lewis Hamilton to have a “youth attitude”

F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve reckons that Lewis Hamilton could get rejuvenated once he joins Ferrari in 2025.

Ex-F1 champion claims Ferrari could push Lewis Hamilton to have a “youth attitude”

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc (Via: Imago)

Lewis Hamilton will depart Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season. The seven-time world champion has signed a long-term deal with Scuderia Ferrari commencing from 2025. However, questions have been raised about the 39-year-old’s energy and competitiveness. Now, former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has hinted that Ferrari might be what Hamilton needs.

Villeneuve highlighted that Lewis Hamilton was quite relaxed during his five seasons with Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes. The seven-time world champion won four titles during that period without any real threat from his teammate. However, the Canadian reckoned that George Russell served as a wake-up call to the 39-year-old in their first season as teammates in 2022.

He [Lewis Hamilton] got really comfortable with [Valtteri] Bottas, and he had a little bit of a wake-up call in 2022 when George [Russell] joined.
Jacques Villeneuve told GPFans
YouTube video

Jacques Villeneuve claimed that Hamilton had to match the energy of his new teammate who was willing to conquer the sport. Subsequently, the seven-time world champion faired better against Russell last season. Now, the former F1 champion reckoned that Ferrari might give Lewis Hamilton the shock to get back the youth attitude in 2025. Hamilton has already termed his move to the Scuderia as a childhood dream. The 39-year-old signed a $430 million deal with Maranello.

FS Video
George just had that young energy, wanting to destroy the world, and he did a lot better last year. Now, going to Ferrari might be like that little shock that you get... to give him that 'youth' attitude."

Jacques Villeneuve hopes to see Lewis Hamilton return to winning ways with Ferrari

The seven-time world champion has struggled to fight at the front of the grid since the 2022 regulations. So much so, that Lewis Hamilton’s last victory was at the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP. With Mercedes continuing to fall behind Red Bull and Ferrari this year, it seems that Hamilton will have another winless season to his name.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc (Via: Imago)

Villeneuve mentioned that it would be interesting to see Lewis Hamilton race for Maranello. The Canadian hoped that the seven-time world champion would return to winning ways once he joins the Prancing Horse. The British driver might get rejuvenated as he joins a new project at Ferrari.

It will be exciting to follow, and hopefully, we get the Lewis of his winning days back.

Certainly, Lewis Hamilton would have high ambitions for his upcoming tenure at Maranello. However, the seven-time world champion would be focusing on the remainder of his Mercedes stint for now. The 39-year-old might be looking to end his journey with the Silver Arrows on a high note with a potential victory this season. However, it remains to be seen how things pan out for Hamilton this year.

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