Max Verstappen believes his old rival Lewis Hamilton could be “reborn” at Ferrari.
But Red Bull boss Christian Horner thinks the seven-time champion could struggle if he fails to hit the ground running with his new team. Hamilton, 40, is desperate to win the title again before he retires and the man who denied him that eighth crown in 2021 knows he can still be a threat.
Verstappen said: “I think it’s nice for Lewis himself. A different scenery, new motivation. When you have been with a team for a long time, you have won a lot and then you have a tough season, maybe your motivation is a bit different? It’s also a bit like being reborn, I guess. A new environment, who knows?”
His boss Horner agrees that Hamilton still has what it takes to be a title contender, but worries for the Brit if he endures a slow start with Ferrari. He said: “I think it’s very much how he goes into it. I think if he gets off to a good start and he gets the team around him, he’ll find his confidence and he could very capably be a real contender for this championship.
“He seems to be embracing his new environment – I saw a clip of him speaking Italian the other day, or an English version of speaking Italian. They’ll love him if he’s quick and he delivers, and he’ll feed off that energy. If he doesn’t get off to a good start, it will be inevitably harder for him.”
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s season launch event in London, Verstappen was in no mood for making predictions about what the 2025 season may hold. “It’s always very difficult to say before you have even driven the real car,” he repeated several times over the course of the day.
McLaren head into the season as favourites, while Mercedes will also hope to be in the title conversation along with Red Bull and Ferrari.
Following Hamilton’s exit, the Silver Arrows will be led on track by George Russell who ended last season in the midst of a furious feud with Verstappen which saw both drivers take several public shots at each other.
Russell said yesterday he hadn’t spoken with the Dutchman since and that he had no intention of clearing the air ahead of the new campaign. And Verstappen showed there is still little love lost between them as he echoed that sentiment.
He added: “I have no intention of continuing any type of beef in February. I’m still enjoying my time away from Formula 1 and just getting ready for the season. I honestly have nothing to say on that subject.”
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