F1 News
'Hamilton could have a shot at the World Championship in 2025'
The 2024 Formula 1 season was a far more competitive and enthralling season than many thought it would be. Now, with the Australian Grand Prix upcoming in March, the 2025 season could be one of the all-time years in F1. Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari for 2025 gives the upcoming season another interesting layer in what could be one of the best years in F1 history, and former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve believes the Brit has a perfect chance to seal title number eight.
Before the 2024 season got underway, there was a consensus that Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing would continue from where they left off after their record-breaking 2023 season. It looked that way after the first few races, but after the Miami Grand Prix, the emergence of Lando Norris and McLaren created a far more exciting season, and there is an expectation that 2025 will deliver that once again.
News before the 2024 season that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes after 12 years at the German team also sent shockwaves around the paddock. Six world titles and seven constructors' championships later, the 40-year-old would make the move to Ferrari for 2025 in search of the record-breaking eight World Championship and 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve believes he can do it.
2025 could be "a win-win" for Ferrari
Speaking with Action Network, the Canadian said: "Lewis could have a shot at it. He finished on a high note. It will be an interesting battle between Lewis and Leclerc. You see what's come out in the media at the moment, Ferrari is really pushing Lewis right now. There's a big image happening. Either he's pushed and it's amazing. And if it's not, then it will pump Leclerc up. So basically it's a win-win for Ferrari right now."
Villeneuve then also goes on to talk about McLaren and Lando Norris, who pushed Max Verstappen the closest in the 2024 title battle. However, the internal decisions between Norris and Oscar Piastri caused some trouble throughout the season, and the 53-year-old wonders if that will hinder both the Brit and the British team for 2025.
"The way the [2024] season ended, I would have put the dice a little bit more on Lando and McLaren. But the issue there will be the internal battle between the two drivers. McLaren have not and will not handle that well, and they will eat each other's points away. So even though they probably should be the champion, they might not be.
"Lando should be the natural one fighting for the championship. But the internal battle and the fact that McLaren doesn't seem to handle this internal rivalry in a very positive way, then it might fall more into Lewi’s hands, seeing how Ferrari ended up last season," concluded Villeneuve.