Lewis Hamilton has now joined Ferrari. (Image: Getty)
A former ally of Lewis Hamilton could hold the key to the British driver putting his qualifying woes behind him at this year. Hamilton has a total of 104 pole positions to his name, the most in F1 history with second on just 68.
But amid the Silver Arrows struggling to adapt to the sport’s new era of regulations since 2022, Hamilton has endured a barren time these past three seasons.
He has notched just one pole to go with his two race wins, in Hungary in 2023, and last year was out-qualified by team-mate in 19 of the 24 races.
His form has led to scepticism over his move to the Scuderia, having signed on a lucrative multi year-deal that will take him past his 41st birthday. Development of ’s car for 2025 is being led by French engineer Loic Serra, who worked for five years alongside Hamilton as performance director at .
And according to the Italian edition of , Serra is planning to revolutionise the design to allow Hamilton and to get the best out of their vehicles. Serra is said to specialise in vehicle dynamics, and is looking to ensure achieve ‘maximum exploitation’ of the new Pirelli tyres for 2025.
Serra is said to want to alter the ‘basic behaviour’ of the car, which would allow to achieve exceptional performance over both a single lap and longer distance. The team have seemingly worked very closely with Pirelli on the development of the 2025 tyres, which are expected to be less vulnerable to overheating and equipped for longer race stints.
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Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc in 2025. (Image: Getty)
Serra and co are also seeking a more even weight distribution in the car, that could see Hamilton return to being formidable in qualifying and also challenge for an unprecedented eighth world title. And last week, the 40-year-old spoke publicly for the first time since ending his 12-year stint with ’s team .
“I could not be more excited for the year ahead. Moving to Scuderia , there’s a lot to reflect on,” he wrote on social media. “To anyone considering their next move in 2025: embrace the change.
“Whether you’re switching industries, learning a new skill, or even just taking on new challenges, remember that reinvention is powerful. Your next opportunity is always within reach. Here’s to 2025 – a year of embracing new opportunities, staying hungry, and driving forward with purpose. Let’s make it one to remember. Andiamo.”
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Leclerc and were third and fifth respectively in the drivers’ standings last season, with the Spaniard having now joined Williams after being released to make way for Hamilton. The team was also second in the Constructors’ race, finishing just 14 points off .
Hamilton meanwhile, finished seventh, his lowest position in all his 18 seasons in F1. And in the penultimate race of the season in Qatar, he candidly admitted “I’m not fast anymore,” a comment that drew criticism.