Valtteri Bottas ‘positive’ Lewis Hamilton will do one thing when Mercedes F1 star joins Ferrari

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Stake F1 Team Sauber ace Valtteri Bottas is ‘positive’ that Lewis Hamilton will achieve one thing when the Mercedes driver joins Ferrari on a multi-year contract from 2025.

The Scuderia have signed the 39-year-old to replace Carlos Sainz next year before the 2024 F1 season has even started. Hamilton triggered an escape clause in his contract at Mercedes to land a drive at Ferrari. Sainz was already set to be out of contract in Maranello after 2024.

A move to Maranello marks a big step for Hamilton, who has driven Mercedes-powered cars since his debut in F1. The German giant powered the McLaren cars he drove between 2007 and 2012. He then moved to Mercedes in 2013 and won six further titles from 2014 to 2020.

Valtteri Bottas is ‘positive’ Lewis Hamilton will be ‘great’ at Ferrari in 2025

Hamilton spent five of his seasons with Mercedes sat beside Bottas, who drove for the Silver Arrows from 2017 to 2021. The 39-year-old also won four consecutive titles during their first four years as teammates to equal Michael Schumacher’s record as a seven-time champion.

So, Bottas knows how Hamilton operates, and the Finn expects his old Mercedes stablemate to thrive at Ferrari next year. He does not doubt the Stevenage-born star challenging Charles Leclerc in the Scuderia garage as Hamilton is great at unlocking his mechanic’s full potential.

“It’s going to be a different experience for him,” the Stake F1 Team driver has told Sky Sports News. “But with all of his experience in F1, he’s always been great with dealing with people and getting the most out of the team.

“I’m positive he’s going to do a great job there and shouldn’t have issues getting used to the car, either. He’s a pretty adaptive guy.”

Lewis Hamilton will be eager to make his move from Mercedes a success

Hamilton will partner one of Formula 1’s fastest qualifiers in Leclerc when the Mercedes star joins Ferrari. But the Briton will back himself to make the Scuderia his team and, potentially, win an eighth title at the outfit which drove Schumacher to five of his record-setting crowns.

A third winless season in a row during 2024 will only enhance Hamilton’s eagerness to make the switch a success, too. The Briton endured his first winless Formula 1 season ever in 2022 after Mercedes sought a zero-pod concept and had a second in 2023 as they initially kept it.