There have been concerns raised over the team hierarchy following Lewis Hamilton’s recent decision to switch from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season. The question of who will be the primary driver now that Hamilton is joining Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc, who has been with the team since 2019, comes up. Will Ferrari stick with Leclerc, or will they give Hamilton’s background and accomplishments more weight? In response to this particular question, former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher has offered his opinion, which is in the Monegasque’s favor.

Ralf Schumacher believes that the race between Hamilton and Leclerc can produce exciting grid dynamics, given the impending lineup at the Prancing Horse. “When Hamilton is at Ferrari, he will aim to be the team’s number one, but I think he will have to fight for it because Leclerc has been there for a long time,” he said, as reported by Motorsport Week on Sky Germany.

Additionally, Schumacher expressed his belief that Leclerc could have an advantage over Hamilton because of his aptitude for controlling a less cooperative vehicle, especially one with a sharp front end. The former Williams driver believes that Mercedes and Ferrari will have difficult seasons ahead of them. He says that having one driver leave each team will make information sharing more difficult.

Mercedes, for example, has pledged to back Hamilton in his pursuit of the championship; thus, all information must be given to him. However, Ralf believes that while automobile development is still underway, they also need to be careful not to reveal too much.

Will Lewis Hamilton’s background at Ferrari be a benefit or a drawback for him?

One of the most talked-about driver transfers in the history of the sport is Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. Fans are therefore excitedly awaiting this much-publicized transition. But former British Formula One driver David Coulthard believes Hamilton may face many difficulties with this decision.

In an interview with the Formula for Success podcast, Coulthard stated, “Charles [Leclerc] is a young, incredibly talented race driver.” Lewis Hamilton’s experience and World Championships are not things he possesses. But in my opinion, he is a champion to be. Lewis might, therefore, face his biggest obstacle there.

Notwithstanding Coulthard’s point of view, the team’s evident preference for Leclerc may provide Hamilton with further difficulties. Even though Leclerc didn’t win any races the previous season, Ferrari frequently gave the Monegasque driver the advantage over Sainz.

Ferrari may therefore use Hamilton’s background to help Leclerc in his title aspirations. The seven-time world champion could discover that his vast experience is working against him in this situation, particularly when going up against a younger and potentially faster driver.