Tom Coronel thinks Ferrari would’ve picked Max Verstappen over Lewis Hamilton for 2025.
- Hamilton will leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of 2024.
- Hamilton claimed victories at the British and Belgian Grands Prix.
- Coronel believes Ferrari can only win the title with Verstappen.
- Hamilton signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari, but details are scarce.
Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari at the end of 2024. According to Dutch driver Tom Coronel, Ferrari would have preferred to sign Max Verstappen over Hamilton for the 2025 season. Coronel claims that Ferrari sees Verstappen as their best chance to become World Champions, implying that Hamilton is a ‘second choice’.
Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari in February and has since been on a farewell tour with Mercedes. Although he won’t end his Mercedes career with an eighth World title, he has been victorious again. He claimed his first win in 945 days at the British Grand Prix, and followed it up with another victory at the Belgian Grand Prix after George Russell was disqualified due to a technical infringement.
Coronel believes Hamilton still possesses the talent to win another World title. “Lewis Hamilton is and remains a top driver, who could secretly take another World title,” Coronel told Formule 1 Magazine. He added that Hamilton’s recent wins might have been down to luck but acknowledged that the British driver managed to pull them off.
However, Coronel doubts that Hamilton will achieve similar success at Ferrari, suggesting that the team needs more than just Hamilton—they need Verstappen. He voiced his opinion that Hamilton is the ‘second choice’ for Ferrari, but noted that being second is still better than being third.
Coronel also speculates that Hamilton’s dream move to Ferrari might not go as planned, potentially leaving him behind Mercedes on the track next season. He emphasizes that Hamilton is already preparing for his Mercedes farewell and hinted that the British driver might face some tough times ahead with Ferrari.
Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann, firmly believes Hamilton joined Ferrari not just to retire but to win his eighth title. Elkann stated, “He doesn’t come to Ferrari to enjoy his retirement and it’s important to have motivated people around, who want to win.” Despite the speculation, Elkann sees Hamilton as a strong addition to the Ferrari team.
As Hamilton gears up for his final season with Mercedes, the speculations surrounding his move to Ferrari continue to swirl.
