Lewis Hamilton may face a tough challenge against Charles Leclerc in the 2025 Formula 1 season, with former F1 driver Marc Surer suggesting the seven-time world champion could struggle against his younger teammate.
Surer, in an interview with London Insider, said he believes Hamilton’s age will impact his raw speed, particularly in qualifying. However, he suggests that race pace could tell a different story if Ferrari provides the right car.
“I think Leclerc will be faster than 40-year-old Hamilton. It is not possible at this age to be as fast as Leclerc,” Surer stated.
“But a lot will depend on the handling of the car. We know Hamilton is quite sensitive to how the car handles. If it’s to his favour, he could do very well in the race, so maybe in race performance it will be not as clear as qualifying,” he added.
Ferrari Should Use Team Orders
Despite potential intra-team competition, Surer believes Ferrari won’t hesitate to implement team orders if one driver gains an early championship advantage. He pointed to past examples, such as McLaren’s indecisiveness in 2024, as a mistake Ferrari would likely avoid.
“I think Ferrari will be clever enough to use team orders quite quickly, because if they have a chance to win the championship, they should use team orders quickly and not wait, like McLaren did last year,” he explained.
While Hamilton’s supporters are hopeful he can finally secure an elusive eighth world championship, betting markets suggest otherwise. Analysis from My Betting Edge indicates that Hamilton has only a 14% implied probability of winning the 2025 title.