Ferrari’s heavy burden: Will it crush Hamilton? The opening round of the 2025 Formula 1 season is in the books and it has already provided plenty of drama. Lando Norris, the man who has emerged as Max Verstappen’s most formidable rival in 2024, wasted no time in asserting himself, taking victory in a challenging race that tested the drivers in every way.
While Norris’ win signals a potential shift in the balance of power, German RTL reporter Felix Görner is more concerned with another high-profile driver: Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion has begun a new chapter in his career with Ferrari, but if history is any guide, it may not have a fairytale ending.
Görner, writing for sport.de, makes a bold prediction that will bring comfort to fans of Michael Schumacher: Hamilton will not break Schumacher’s long-standing record of seven world championships this year. That’s because, as many greats before him have learned, the weight of Ferrari is simply too much to bear.
The curse of the red car
There is no doubt that Ferrari remains the most iconic team in F1. But over the past two decades it has also been the most frustrating. The team’s history is littered with the ghosts of champions who arrived with high expectations only to leave with broken dreams.
Fernando Alonso, for all his brilliance, never won a title with Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion, suffered the same fate, crumbling under the pressure of a team that demanded perfection but often failed to deliver. Hamilton now faces the same challenge.
He has entered Ferrari as a driver who has seen it all and done it all. But what happens when things go wrong? If Charles Leclerc outperforms him, if the car does not behave the way he wants it to, if the internal politics of Maranello start working against him, how long before his patience wears thin?
Hamilton’s success in F1 has been built on stability, and stability is something Ferrari has rarely provided. The question is not whether he will struggle, but how long he can endure before the strain becomes too much to bear.
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A season shaping up as Verstappen vs. McLaren
Beyond Hamilton’s struggles, the first race of the season revealed something else: this year’s title battle is likely to be between Max Verstappen and McLaren.
Norris’ win was a statement. In treacherous conditions, he kept his cool and produced a performance that will undoubtedly boost his confidence. More importantly, it sent a message to Red Bull that McLaren are ready to challenge them at every turn.
While Mercedes and George Russell may occasionally get involved in the fight, it is clear that the battle at the top will revolve around McLaren and Verstappen.
Red Bull’s new car, meanwhile, is not living up to expectations. Their technical team, now led by Pierre Waché following Adrian Newey’s reduced involvement, has failed to produce a dominant car. Verstappen, ever the perfectionist, already seems aware that his job will be harder than ever this year.
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Rookie watch: Trouble for Hadjar, Doohan and Lawson
One of the most intriguing subplots of the 2025 season is the influx of new talent. With six rookies on the grid there was bound to be a learning curve, but some are already under pressure.
Isack Hadjar and Jack Doohan, both of whom have found themselves in difficult situations with their respective teams, may not see out the season in their current seats. The ruthless world of Formula One does not allow for extended grace periods and the first race has already cast doubt on their ability to perform at this level.
Then there is Liam Lawson, who had a nightmare of a debut weekend. Racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull is never easy and history has shown that most drivers in that position eventually crack under the pressure. Lawson’s first outing suggests he could be no different.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that Yuki Tsunoda, now with VCARB, is performing better than expected. Many believe Tsunoda deserves the Red Bull seat over Lawson and if the struggles continue, Helmut Marko and the Red Bull leadership may be forced to reconsider their driver line-up sooner rather than later.
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Norris draws first blood, Verstappen smells opportunity
One of the biggest battles within the team this year will be between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Last season McLaren avoided any major conflict between the two drivers, but that may not last much longer.
Norris has already struck the first blow. His victory not only establishes him as McLaren’s top contender, but also puts Piastri in a difficult position. In Formula 1, being number one within a team is often as important as being the fastest driver on the grid. If Norris continues to perform like this, he will cement his status as McLaren’s leader.
Meanwhile, Verstappen will be watching with interest. The Dutchman knows that Norris will be his toughest rival this year, but he is also aware of McLaren’s potential weaknesses. If tensions between Norris and Piastri escalate, Verstappen will be ready to take advantage of any distraction.
His own performance in the first race was solid – far better than last year when he left Melbourne with zero points. But he also knows that his car is not where it needs to be. The Red Bull is competitive, but not dominant, and that means Verstappen will have to work harder than ever to stay on top.
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Ferrari’s reality check
Hamilton’s struggles aside, the real story at Ferrari is the one that has been playing out for years: The team is simply not ready to win championships.
The last time Ferrari won a driver’s title was in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen. Since then, they have had world-class drivers, huge budgets and enormous fan support, but have been unable to turn any of it into sustained success.
Schumacher brought Ferrari back to the top in 2000 after a long drought, winning five consecutive championships. Now Ferrari are 18 years into another title drought and there is no sign of that changing any time soon.
For all the excitement around Hamilton’s arrival, Ferrari’s biggest problem remains the same: the team is bigger than the driver. It is an institution that puts immense pressure on its stars, but does not always give them the tools to succeed.
The investment in Hamilton has been huge – not just financially, but in terms of marketing and reputation. But if the car is not good enough, none of that will matter.
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The season continues in China
With the first race of the season behind us, the focus now shifts to the Chinese Grand Prix, which takes place from 21-23 March.
It will be another test for McLaren and Verstappen, another opportunity for Norris to assert himself and another chance to see if Ferrari can find answers to their ongoing struggles.
It is still early days for Hamilton, but the warning signs are there. If history is any guide, the weight of Ferrari is only going to get heavier. And if he cannot carry it, his time at the Scuderia may not be remembered as a triumphant final act, but as yet another failed attempt to tame the Prancing Horse.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
