Lewis Hamilton will bring “his experience and knowledge” to Ferrari, but Ralf Schumacher does not believe he will “contribute too much” as the team is already moving in the right direction.
Hamilton will sign up for Ferrari next season after stunning the paddock, adding Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff when he announced he would leave the Silver Arrows after his 12th season to join the Scuderia.
He is a legend with the most successful of all time in the sport with his 103 Grand Prix victories and seven world titles alongside the most successful team. Ferrari has won 16 constructors’ titles and 15 teams’ crowns.
However, it has been a long drought for the Italian team.
Ferrari last won the Drivers’ title in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen before adding its 16th and final Constructors’ Trophy a year later. There were many second places in both classifications, but this maximum level proved difficult to reach.
Still, Ferrari is hopeful that Hamilton’s arrival next season could be the definitive piece of the puzzle.
Schumacher doubts it.
“In fact, he will bring his experience and ideas, but I think Ferrari is already on the right track. Hamilton may not be able to contribute too much,” he told formel1. de.
That doesn’t mean, however, that Ferrari is wasting money signing the seven-time world champion.
“I’m sure Vasseur wouldn’t pay that much money for anything. He will offer and give everything to Hamilton to make sure he can perform,” he said.
But like the rest of us, Schumacher is “curious to see who will lead the way” between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. After all, the Briton is not Max Verstappen.
“Hamilton is, of course, a seven-time world champion and driver. But I don’t think he has the qualities of Verstappen. No I think he’s as consistent as Verstappen. And he can’t get that extra tenth place at any price. “
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Schumacher isn’t the only former F1 personality to have communicated about Hamilton’s next move, with former team boss Flavio Briatore warning Ferrari that the Briton is unmotivated.
“He’s one of those drivers who doesn’t push himself too hard if the car is good,” the Italian told RAI.
Schumacher agreed, saying: “Hamilton has to feel he can win so he can drive fast. “
And this begs the question of what will happen in 2026, when the new technical regulations come into force?
“Then,” the German continued, “will it be up to the new regulations that will come into force?Because with the new regulations, the taste of driving also changes, and that can cause you difficulties. “
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