Lewis Hamilton has foolproof plan to beat Charles Leclerc and prove F1 doubters wrong

arrived at Maranello this week amid plenty of external noise. The Brit’s one-lap pace and commitment to F1 were questioned by doubters in 2024, but the sport’s most decorated driver has a clear path to glory in ’s iconic scarlet red.

If the seven-time world champion is to prove his doubters wrong this year, he’ll need to stick to a clear game plan. Express Sport looks at Hamilton’s checklist for his first season with …

Regain confidence on Saturdays

Hamilton’s 2024 campaign will be remembered for his iconic win at Silverstone, but the Brit’s highs were overshadowed by a season-long struggle to extract one-lap pace from the complicated and unpredictable W15 machine.

Throughout the season, he was beaten 19-5 by , causing some pundits to speculate about whether F1’s greatest-ever qualifier has lost his special touch. However, the 40-year-old’s post-qualifying interviews paint a clear picture – Hamilton severely lacked confidence in his machinery.

While Russell could extract the maximum from his W15, Hamilton’s on-board footage often showed him scrapping to contend with snaps of oversteer. With former ally Loic Serra spearheading car development at , the Scuderia’s new challenger could better suit the Brit.

Learn Italian and integrate at Ferrari

After spending his entire career working within the confines of his native UK with and , Hamilton’s move to Maranello will pose a significant cultural challenge.

Former chief and current F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali offered the Brit some precious advice, telling Autosprint, “He will bring great interest. He is learning to speak Italian and understand how to integrate into our culture. I told him it is also essential for him to be able to do this. In , he will find a different environment than before.”

Hamilton has experience learning Italian, too. “In all these years, I’ve not managed to learn any other languages, but of course, I’ll definitely try,” he said in 2024 after his move was confirmed. “I do remember when I was karting in Italy, and I was able to pick up a few lines, and so hopefully, that will come back to me pretty quickly.”

By learning Italian, Hamilton will demonstrate his commitment to his new team, and the easier flow of communications will allow the Brit to develop closer relationships with his engineers and mechanics.

Maintain harmonious Leclerc relationship

While Hamilton has struggled to maintain harmonious relationships with his team-mates in the past, such as with Alonso and Nico Rosberg, the Brit has an excellent chance to do so at . He and Leclerc share immense mutual respect and have never clashed on track during their seven years on the grid together.

Hamilton’s stint alongside Russell at demonstrated his ability to work alongside a team-mate to help the team recover from a rough patch, and at , he and Leclerc will face a new challenge – spurring the Scuderia on to avenge ’s Constructors’ Championship title in 2024.

missed out on a first title since 2007 in agonising fashion in Abu Dhabi, and with and Oscar Piastri both proving willing to sacrifice individual victories for the greater good of the team, Hamilton and Leclerc will need to be on top form to see off the reigning champions in 2025.