Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari has been described as having “all the hallmarks of a fairytale,” with expectations soaring as he prepares for his Melbourne debut in the iconic red.

Sky F1 pundit Bernie Collins believes that Hamilton’s late-career switch could breathe new life into the seven-time World Champion, potentially ushering in “Lewis 2.0” on the Formula 1 grid.

Can Ferrari Unlock ‘Lewis 2.0’ in 2025?

Collins, a former Aston Martin head of strategy, admits she was taken aback when she first heard about Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes after 12 seasons and six world titles. However, a year later, that initial shock has transformed into excitement about what the sport’s most successful driver can achieve alongside his new teammate, Charles Leclerc, at Ferrari.

“This time last year I was shocked, but the more I’ve seen Lewis in red, the more I’ve seen his excitement at being in that car, he’s like a revitalised Lewis,” Collins told PlanetF1.com.

She highlighted that Hamilton has always thrived when faced with a challenge, a sentiment echoed by her partner, Ryan McGarva, who previously worked with Hamilton at Mercedes. “My other half [Ryan McGarva] worked with Lewis for a little while [at Mercedes] and tells me Lewis always did well in a year where he was challenged and up for it.”

Collins believes that Ferrari itself, as well as the battle against Leclerc, will be major tests for Hamilton. “Ferrari is going to be a challenge, beating Leclerc is going to be a challenge. So I think we’re going to see Lewis 2.0.”

Embracing the Ferrari Project

Since officially joining Ferrari and reuniting with team principal Fred Vasseur—who was instrumental in Hamilton’s early single-seater career—the Brit has fully immersed himself in his new environment.

Hamilton set up his motorhome close to Fiorano, Ferrari’s private racetrack, and even started learning Italian. Driving a Scuderia Ferrari car for the first time was, in his own words, “one of the best feelings” of his life.

“I don’t have the words to really explain just how excited I am,” Hamilton shared in a BBC interview. “I’m embarking on something brand new for me and something I didn’t think would happen when I turned 40.”

The magnitude of the moment hasn’t been lost on the F1 legend. “I’m still like pinching myself. I’m going to be starting a grand prix in red. I mean, wow.”

The Challenge Ahead

Ever since news of Hamilton’s move broke in February last year, the impact has been felt across the F1 world. With the most successful and influential driver in history now part of its most legendary team, expectations are sky-high.

Collins believes that Hamilton’s drive to compete has been reignited after several frustrating seasons at Mercedes. “I think we’re going to see a step up from the last three years where he’s been a bit upset that Mercedes weren’t going to turn things around.”

Since losing the 2021 title, Hamilton has not been in direct contention for a championship, but Collins predicts that is about to change. “Now we’re going to see Lewis fighting. It has all the hallmarks of a fairytale.”

The Key Battles for Hamilton

Currently, Hamilton is ranked fourth in the Drivers’ ante-post betting odds, behind Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and his new teammate, Leclerc.

Collins identifies a crucial challenge for Hamilton: “The big question is can he beat Leclerc in qualifying? Can he have the upper hand in the race? Qualifying is going to be Lewis’ challenge.”

She believes that a strong start could set the tone for his season. “If he can come out rolling in the first few races it’s going to be exciting. If he gets a taste of it in the first few races he’s going to be pretty hard to stop.”

As the engines prepare to roar for the new Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen has stepped forward with a bold response to growing concerns about Red Bull’s competitiveness.

With questions swirling from both fans and analysts, the reigning champion has not shied away from addressing the team’s struggles head-on.

As the 2025 season looms, Verstappen’s confidence in Red Bull’s ability to challenge its rivals is under scrutiny, igniting fresh debates among F1 enthusiasts.

His candid remarks offer insight into the immense pressure and expectations that come with being at the forefront of the sport.

Verstappen’s Honest Take on Red Bull’s Capabilities

With the start of the 2025 season fast approaching, Verstappen has openly discussed his concerns about Red Bull’s performance trajectory.

Even after clinching his fourth championship in 2024, he remains uncertain about whether the team can maintain its competitive edge in the title race this year.

Speaking to reporters, Verstappen admitted with candor that he is skeptical about whether the RB21 will meet expectations during pre-season testing.

Internal challenges including the loss of key personnel and significant car modifications have raised alarms about the team’s ability to maintain its dominance on the track.

Internal Challenges and Performance Woes

Red Bull’s internal situation has been far from stable, with ongoing investigations and underwhelming test results contributing to uncertainty.

Technical director Pierre Wache acknowledged that the team encountered setbacks during pre-season testing in Bahrain, stating that these challenges have negatively impacted preparations for the opening race in Melbourne. Verstappen expressed his disappointment, saying he had expected “greater improvements,” highlighting his concern that Red Bull may not be in a strong enough position to effectively challenge its rivals.

With teams like McLaren making impressive strides, Verstappen’s worries only grow, questioning whether Red Bull can recover in time to remain competitive.

A Cautious Yet Determined Outlook

Despite the evident hurdles, Verstappen remains cautiously optimistic about his future with Red Bull.

In a sport where performance is everything, he understands the mounting pressure on both himself and the team.

Acknowledging the need for stability, he emphasized the importance of “consistency and improvement” in the team’s operations to keep their championship ambitions alive. Meanwhile, McLaren’s strong pre-season performance has turned heads, raising the crucial question: can Red Bull fight back? The answer may not only shape Verstappen’s legacy but also redefine the competitive landscape of Formula 1.

As the 2025 season kicks off, Verstappen finds himself at the center of speculation surrounding Red Bull’s ability to compete at the highest level.

Though concerns persist regarding the team’s preparation and the adaptation to their new car model, he remains steadfast in his belief that they can rebound from the difficulties of 2024.

His recent remarks underline his enduring confidence and resilience.

Verstappen’s firm assertion that Red Bull still holds “the potential to deliver a competitive edge this season” reaffirms his commitment to the team. Recognizing the internal and external pressures they face, he stresses the “necessity for improvement” while rallying behind his teammates. In doing so, he not only demonstrates his leadership but also reinforces the determined spirit within the Red Bull Racing camp.

As another Formula 1 season kicks off at Albert Park with the Australian Grand Prix, it’s a perfect time to revisit one of the most dramatic moments in the race’s history Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification from the 2009 Australian Grand Prix.

The reigning World Champion at the time, Hamilton’s podium finish was ultimately erased after an FIA investigation revealed misleading statements from McLaren.

But how did it all unfold?

The Chaos of the 2009 Australian Grand Prix

Before the season even began, Formula 1 was already embroiled in controversy. McLaren and Renault had threatened to boycott the season opener, citing unpaid funds that were contingent on signing the new Concorde Agreement.

Eventually, both teams decided to race, but another issue emerged concerns over Brawn, Toyota, and Williams’ new diffusers. Although initially deemed legal, the debate raged on.

When the race began, Jenson Button led the field for Brawn GP, avoiding the chaos that erupted behind him.

His teammate Rubens Barrichello stalled at the start, setting off a chain reaction that saw Mark Webber’s Red Bull collide with Heikki Kovalainen’s McLaren, with Adrian Sutil and Nick Heidfeld also caught in the wreckage.

The race was further disrupted by two safety car appearances first for Kazuki Nakajima’s crash on Lap 18, and then for a dramatic collision between Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica on Lap 56.

Vettel, attempting to continue with a broken wheel, eventually stopped between Turns 10 and 11, forcing the race to end under caution.

Button secured his first victory on the road to his eventual World Championship, leading a Brawn 1-2 finish.

Behind them, Jarno Trulli (Toyota) took third place, but his podium finish was immediately put under scrutiny after he was suspected of passing Lewis Hamilton under safety car conditions a violation of Article 40.14 of the 2009 regulations.

It wasn’t long before Trulli received a 25-second penalty, dropping him from third to 12th, while Hamilton was promoted to the podium. But this was only the beginning of the controversy.

Hamilton’s Disqualification: The Fallout from Misleading the FIA

Following the race, Toyota appealed Trulli’s penalty, though the regulations prevented time penalties from being overturned if issued within the final five laps.

The matter was escalated to the International Court of Appeal, where new evidence turned the case upside down.

On April 2, 2009, both Trulli and Hamilton were summoned to appear before the FIA. The game-changer? Radio transmissions from McLaren’s garage.

The recordings did not contain any instructions for Hamilton to slow down and let Trulli pass contradicting both Hamilton’s and McLaren’s previous statements.

The FIA was furious.

In an official statement, the FIA declared that Hamilton and McLaren had misled race officials, stating:

“The stewards, having learned about the radio exchanges and the media interview, felt strongly that they had been misled by the driver and his team manager.”

Adding to the controversy, neither Hamilton nor McLaren had corrected the record, even after knowing Trulli was being penalized unfairly.

As a result, Hamilton was disqualified from the race, McLaren lost its constructors’ points, and team sporting director Dave Ryan was fired.

McLaren also received a suspended three-race ban, meaning any similar infraction within 12 months would see them barred from competition. Team principal Martin Whitmarsh defended McLaren, saying:

“There is no implication that Lewis lied to the stewards… What they believe is that the omission of the information about the radio communication between the team was withheld and that is misleading.”

With Spygate the 2007 scandal where McLaren was caught with Ferrari trade secrets still fresh in everyone’s minds, the team’s reputation took another major hit.

Facing immense backlash, a 24-year-old Hamilton publicly apologized, stating:

“I could not tell you how sorry I am for the embarrassment… I sincerely apologize to the race stewards for wasting their time and making them look silly.”

He continued:

“I want to say sorry to all my fans. I am not a liar or a dishonest person, I am a team player. If the team asks me to do something, I generally do it. But I felt awkward and uncomfortable.”

Despite the controversy, Hamilton still managed to win two races that season (Hungary and Singapore) and finished fifth in the World Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren secured third in the Constructors’ standings.

Hamilton’s 2023 Disqualification: A Different Story, Same Result

The 2009 Australian Grand Prix wasn’t the only time Hamilton has been disqualified from a race. In 2023, at the United States Grand Prix, he faced a similar fate—though for vastly different reasons.

The Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is known for its bumpy surface, and teams were already concerned about the impact on their cars. That concern became reality when Hamilton, after finishing second, was later disqualified for a technical violation.

The FIA’s post-race inspection found excessive wear on his car’s skid block, which is designed to ensure compliance with ride height regulations. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc suffered the same issue and was also disqualified.

Although technical disqualifications are routine, it was still a bitter pill for Hamilton, especially after a strong podium finish in what had been a challenging season for Mercedes.

While the 2009 Australian GP disqualification was a result of misleading race officials, the 2023 United States GP disqualification was purely technical.

Both incidents, however, serve as reminders of how ruthless and unforgiving Formula 1 can be.

In 2009, Hamilton was thrust into controversy over what McLaren failed to disclose, while in 2023, he was a victim of strict FIA technical regulations.

But through all the highs and lows, Hamilton has remained one of the sport’s greatest drivers, proving that even moments of disqualification can’t overshadow a legacy built on pure racing talent.