Rosberg suggests that Hamilton or Leclerc might gain the advantage.

Rosberg suggests that Hamilton or Leclerc might gain the advantage.

      A former teammate from Mercedes believes that Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari may reignite his "inner fire." During their time together at Mercedes, they secured every drivers’ championship, with Hamilton winning three titles and Nico Rosberg one in 2016. Hamilton’s total now stands at seven titles at the age of 40.

      "Lewis doesn't have to prove anything to anyone anymore," Rosberg, 39, told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Yet he has sought a new way to push boundaries with his fresh start at Ferrari. I know he is filled with a deep passion for motorsport and a strong desire to discover himself anew," the German added.

      While Hamilton's transition to Ferrari has garnered significant global attention, some skeptics believe Charles Leclerc might quickly gain the advantage. However, Rosberg cautioned against underestimating Hamilton.

      "A change of environment like this can rekindle a racing driver's inner fire," he noted. "Lewis is already a legend. If he is willing to take such a risk at this point in his career, it speaks volumes about his ambition for success. I believe Lewis will rise to the occasion and further develop as both a driver and a person."

      La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Ferrari's team principal Frederic Vasseur aims to have Hamilton and Leclerc start the 2025 season as equal number ones, with a hierarchy potentially forming as the season progresses. Both Ferrari drivers for 2025 are highly regarded.

      Rosberg stated, "I see Max Verstappen as the top driver among the rest. George Russell may be the best of the younger generation, but Charles is at a similarly high level. However, Lewis struggled a bit in 2024, leaving the impression that he was uncertain about the reasons behind it. If we approach it from this perspective, Charles could surpass Hamilton, just as George did."

      "But be cautious," Rosberg warned. "Hamilton is the greatest of all time, and I believe he can return to his usual form. If that happens, he could very well finish slightly ahead of Leclerc by the year's end."

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Rosberg suggests that Hamilton or Leclerc might gain the advantage.

Formula 1 | A former teammate from Mercedes believes that Lewis Hamilton's motivation could be reignited by a switch to Ferrari. During their time together at Mercedes, (…)