Why Lewis Hamilton will be more like Michael Schumacher than Fernando Alonso at Ferrari next season

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Lewis Hamilton will trade silver for red in 2025 as he moves from Mercedes to Ferrari on a multi-year deal.

The 39-year-old announced the sensational news back in February – before he’d even got behind the wheel of the W15 in 2024.

Hamilton has been frustrated by Mercedes‘ underperformance in the ground-effect era as the team have been unable to give him a competitive car.

The move to Ferrari brings a fresh new challenge for the Brit in what will likely be his final move in F1.

Hamilton’s struggles at Mercedes might have an ‘upside’ for Ferrari due to the new technical regulations coming in 2026. The team can continue to run the Brit in the simulator to get him used to the new spec of car.

But his incredible move to Maranello has brought about an important question: Will Hamilton succeed at Ferrari or will he follow in the footsteps of other big names who have tried and failed to win a world championship with the team?

Lewis Hamilton will be eyeing an eighth title to break Michael Schumacher’s record

By joining Ferrari, Hamilton joins an elite club of drivers who have made the move to the Maranello outfit, including the likes of Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen.

Joining Ferrari in 1996 after winning two world titles with Benetton, Schumacher went on to become the team’s most successful driver of all time, winning 72 races and five more titles consecutively from 2000 to 2004.

The German was F1’s most successful driver statistically up until Hamilton broke his record as the winningest driver with Mercedes. The Brit equalled Schumacher’s record of seven titles in 2020.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Hamilton will no doubt be searching for his record eighth title with Ferrari having failed to achieve it with Mercedes. But many have questioned whether he can replicate the success seen from Schumacher.

Ralf Schumacher says Michael Schumacher is light years ahead of Hamilton, and while it is unlikely the 39-year-old will beat the German’s win record with Ferrari, he will have a fighting chance to win a title with the team.

Ferrari were positively surprised by a 2025 update they had in Qatar which will give Hamilton confidence heading into next season, given that the team have proven to have a stronger package than Red Bull and are on par with McLaren.

The Brit has a great opportunity to add to his legend with Ferrari and secure another world championship, and 2025 could be his best chance.

Lewis Hamilton will want to avoid replicating Fernando Alonso’s time at Ferrari

While Hamilton joins an elite list of drivers who have raced for Ferrari, there will be some pressure to deliver results and not end up like some other world champions who have come to the team and failed to get over the final hurdle and achieve glory.

When talking about drivers who should have won championships with Ferrari, Fernando Alonso springs to mind instantly. The Spaniard joined the team from Renault in 2010 and spent five seasons with the team.

Alonso won 11 races in that time and fought for the 2010 and 2012 championships with Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull, but ultimately came up short at the final race on both occasions, finishing runner-up to the German.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Vettel too came to Ferrari and could not achieve a title with the Maranello outfit from 2015 to 2020, and this will certainly be hanging over Hamilton next season as he hopes not to add to that list.

While Ferrari have displayed promising signs for next season and beyond, they have been inconsistent with numerous poor strategy calls and setup issues.

Hamilton’s poor form this season will not help things either, but a fresh move to new surroundings could be just the confidence boost he needs. The Brit stands a better chance at being like Schumacher at Ferrari, but as recent history has shown, he could add his name to the list of world champions who failed to achieve success at F1’s most successful team.