Lewis Hamilton is not as quick as Charles Leclerc, claims former Ferrari star designer

Ahead of Lewis Hamilton's much-awaited move to Ferrari, former engineer John Barnard cast doubt on the seven-time world champion's pace compared to teammate Charles Leclerc. He added that the pressure of the Italian media will eventually get to Hamilton.

Hamilton, one of the most successful drivers in F1, made a strange call to abandon his 11-year association with Mercedes to join rival team Scuderia Ferrari. The news dropped in February 2024 and took many by surprise.

However, the 40-year-old believes the decision was in his best interest, especially given his career path. He is set to team up with 27-year-old Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc. The latter has been with Ferrari since 2019 and recently signed a multi-year extension contract.

Meanwhile, John Barnard, a revolutionary design engineer, shared his point of view on Hamilton's historic transfer. He cast doubt on the seven-time world champion's ability to handle the pressure and said (via Motorsport Magazine):

"I’m interested to see what happens when Lewis Hamilton goes there. I don’t think he’s as quick as Charles Leclerc, but he’s still a decent racing driver, and he understands how to win championships – not by winning every race but by consistently scoring points."

"I wonder, too, what happens if the car doesn’t suit him because at Ferrari it doesn’t take long for them to turn on you. It’s hard to explain but the Italian media puts pressure on the team, week in week out, and that’s tough to deal with."

With Mercedes, Hamilton reportedly enjoyed some extent of cushion and freedom in decision-making. His strong bonds with team principal Toto Wolff and race engineer Peter Bono eased the workflow.

However, with Ferrari, the British driver is likely to face challengers. Italy's language and cultural barriers might come into play, especially if the 40-year-old fails to match expectations in his debut year.

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F1 champion predicts a rousing welcome for Lewis Hamilton in Italy

Lewis Hamilton (Image Source: Getty)

Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for his highly anticipated debut year with Ferrari. He will likely participate in practice sessions this month before the car launch event unfolds in February. On March 16, the seven-time world champion will debut in the red suit at the Australian Grand Prix.

Two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi predicted a grand welcome for the British driver in Italy. Speaking on the Track podcast, he said:

“Ferrari’s coming back strong. [You] can imagine Lewis at Ferrari. The whole of Italy is going to stop on Sunday to watch Lewis drive a Ferrari!”

Hamilton's arrival date in Italy is yet to be known. However, the much-hyped union might happen sooner than later as drivers must report to factories for necessary pre-season simulator and testing work.