Ralf Schumacher has played down the chances of Lewis Hamilton challenging at the very top following his move to Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion is set to start the 2025 season in new colours having departed Mercedes to drive for the Italian manufacturer. Hamilton has fulfilled a childhood dream by following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher and will hope he can find himself top of the pile once again.
Coming off the back of his worst ever finish in the drivers’ championship, there are those who doubt that the British star can realise such success at 40. Hamilton last earned world championship honours in 2020 as he earned a fourth title in as many years, before controversially losing out in 2021.
Former Williams driver Schumacher believes the adjustments involved with joining a new team will hold Hamilton back initially. Crucially however, the German reckons that the veteran driver will have his work cut out to overcome his team-mate and that a title in his first season is ‘very unrealistic’.
“If anyone is going to make it in the Ferrari, I somehow feel it will be Charles Leclerc,” Schumacher told German news agency DPA .
“When you join a new team, it takes at least six to eight months before you can use the whole environment perfectly for yourself and prove yourself in that environment, no matter what you do and how quickly you get comfortable. At least that was my experience.”
Schumacher believes adding Hamilton has been a big risk for Ferrari.
“I think it’s nice that he’s taking on the challenge. But the risk is very, very high for Ferrari,” he told ‘Backstage Boxengasse’ podcast.
“Both sides can lose. If Charles Leclerc is slower, then he is no longer treated as the exceptional talent he is often thought to be. And if Lewis Hamilton, it will also be difficult if Leclerc is ahead.
“There’s quite a bit of pressure on the team within the team. I don’t know if I would have made the decision to drive next to Leclerc. Because one driver is full of juice, while the other is already heading towards retirement – even if that sounds stupid.”
Hamilton has already acknowledged and hit back at his doubters. Speaking in an interview last month he claimed he should not be compared to any other driver to have hit 40 while in the sport.
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“I’ve always welcomed the negativity,” said Hamilton.
“I never, ever reply to any of the older, ultimately, white men who have commented on my career and what they think I should be doing. How you show up, how you present yourself, how you perform slowly dispels that.”
