The week of presentations in F1 has finally arrived, and the excitement is palpable as we wait to catch a glimpse of the new Ferrari SF-25, Lewis Hamilton’s first car with the Scuderia. Tomorrow night, just after the F175 gala at the O2 in London, where all teams will unveil their 2025 decorations, we’ll get our first look at the highly anticipated vehicle.
In Great Britain, there’s a real buzz surrounding Hamilton’s new adventure as he seeks his eighth title, after spending three years away from the championship fight with Mercedes. However, not everyone is optimistic about how this bet will play out. One of those who has expressed skepticism is none other than three-time world champion Jackie Stewart, who admits he’s “surprised” by Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari at 40 years old.
Stewart’s comments, made in an interview with ‘Sky Sports F1’, highlight his doubts about the move. “He has more experience than last year and the previous years, he knows the business very well,” Stewart said, before adding, “Ferrari is the most important name in the motor world. If you were a Masai warrior in the middle of Africa and said: ‘Do you know anything about Ferrari?’ I would tell you that,” implying that there may be more to the signing than meets the eye, perhaps a commercial motivation rather than a purely sporting one.
Regarding Hamilton’s decision, Stewart noted, “In the Lewis case, I was surprised that he was there.” He acknowledged that “going to Ferrari is very colorful, very exciting, and usually, very successful. I would not rule them out, so to speak,” though he stopped short of placing the team as favorites to win. This could be interpreted as Stewart believing they won’t be the first to take the title, but rather a secondary option.
Everything will depend on how good the SF-25 is, which is set to be a completely new car, not a continuation of the 2024 model, with different geometries in the suspensions and a commitment to winning the World Cup in the last year of this generation of ground-effect cars, which will come to an end with the 2026 regulations. The question on everyone’s mind is, will this new car be enough to bring Hamilton his eighth title, or will it be a season of adjustment for the legendary driver in his new red dress?