Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes after over ten years and instead will race for Ferrari next season. This decision by the seven-time world champion has raised concerns about his motivation for the 2025 season, according to former F1 world champion Alain Prost.
Prost acknowledged that Hamilton’s choice to leave Mercedes was understandable, considering his lack of wins in the last two seasons. He suggested that the 39-year-old driver could use the 2025 season to adapt to the team before the new regulations come into effect in 2026.
However, Prost also expressed skepticism about Hamilton’s ability to regain motivation once he starts racing for Ferrari. He pointed out that Hamilton will be 40 years old when he joins the team and questioned if he would be able to perform at the same level. Prost acknowledged that if Ferrari has a successful campaign next year, it could potentially reignite Hamilton’s desire.
Hamilton signed a lucrative $430 million contract with Ferrari for a period of two years. Prost speculated whether this was the right decision for Hamilton and also raised the question of whether Ferrari made the right decision in hiring him. Despite these doubts, Prost believed that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari would be beneficial for the sport.
Additionally, Prost noted that Hamilton may face challenges in adapting to the new team, as his entire career has been spent with English teams McLaren and Mercedes. Switching to an Italian team like Ferrari may require some adjustment for the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton aims to win his eighth world championship with Ferrari and has big ambitions for his future in F1. However, it remains to be seen if his move to Ferrari will be successful next season. For now, Hamilton is fully focused on his final season with Mercedes.