Each in 2024 had been the true stars of the driving force market of their respective disciplines, and each are simply weeks away from the beginning of the long-awaited racing season. Lewis Hamilton introduced his transfer to Scuderia Ferrari in February 2024, adopted by Marc Marquez, who formally secured the official Ducati trip for the upcoming season in June. Two tremendous champions, probably the most profitable energetic riders of their championships, who’ve determined to affix the “Pink Italians” on two and 4 wheels, with the clear objective of chasing one other world title that, for each, would have the flavour of a consecration that solely Ferrari and Ducati can provide them.
Lewis Hamilton has nothing left to show to anybody, but when he had been to win an eighth Method 1 title with the Maranello crew, he would add probably the most valuable stone to a crown that might, for a lot of, crown him as the best of all time. By tying his story to the Ferrari legend, the Englishman would virtually immortalize his star in Method 1. Marc Marquez, too, has nothing left to show to anybody. He has already proven within the 2024 MotoGP championship that he’s nonetheless able to profitable races on the Ducati of the Gresini crew, brushing apart the criticisms of those that thought he might not win after his critical crash at Jerez in 2020. The Spaniard continues to be hungry for world titles, regardless of already having six within the premier class. The seventh title, which the official Ducati crew might simply give him, would tie him with a sure Valentino Rossi on the prime (who gained six in MotoGP and one within the 500cc class), after which who is aware of.
Nevertheless, past statistics and document books, the 2 champions will face conditions which might be very related in some methods however completely different in others. Let’s analyze them collectively.
Inner Political Help
Each Marc Marquez and Lewis Hamilton have been strongly needed by the possession of their future groups, and due to this, it’s clear that, at the least of their first season, they’ll take pleasure in a particular standing throughout the crew. The British driver has come out of a two-year contract with Mercedes, and to make room for him, Ferrari rolled out the crimson carpet, even sacrificing a stable and quick driver like Carlos Sainz. Marc Marquez satisfied Ducati to present him the official bike after a season that was actually constructive and filled with victories, however not with out errors. Nonetheless, as is well-known, Ducati determined to depart out the then doubtless (on the time of the choice) and later confirmed world champion Jorge Martin. Two selections that, in a way, are humanly uncomfortable, particularly Ducati’s, however actually supported by the possession, which sees within the Lewis Hamilton-Ferrari and Marc Marquez-Ducati pairings monumental business potential, past the outcomes that each will definitely convey. Each will certainly make good use of this political assist in direction of their teammates within the 2025 motorsport season.
Cautious Teammates
Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez arrive at their new groups, welcomed with all of the honors and fanfare anticipated, with Ferrari and Ducati completely decided to place their jewels in the absolute best place to carry out. Alongside them, respectively, Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia can not assist however be considerably involved. We’re clearly speaking about completely different aggressive conditions as a result of Pecco Bagnaia has already gained two world titles, whereas the Monegasque driver has solely collected runner-up spots within the driver standings to this point. Nevertheless, each have held the function of “lead driver” of their groups for a number of seasons and have been tied to their groups with multi-year contracts. As all of us count on, it gained’t be a straightforward coexistence for both of them.
Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez already had a on-track contact in 2024, and the Spaniard is actually not the sort to make chivalrous gestures if he is aware of he has a profitable bike. However, the Italian is aware of he misplaced the 2024 bike championship resulting from his personal errors, after all, but in addition as a result of he was “too gentlemanly” in direction of Jorge Martin in sure racing conditions. A mixture of attitudes that’s harmful for the ambitions of the Italian champion. Between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, there have by no means been any main on-track tensions, which is kind of apparent, particularly contemplating Hamilton’s usually exemplary equity. Nevertheless, the Monegasque has usually been vulnerable to getting down when he sees his teammate being sooner. The radio controversies “in opposition to” the newly praised Carlos Sainz in some races this yr are simply the most recent instance. Lewis Hamilton might be a a lot more durable goal for Charles Leclerc, who might want to put apart his ghosts and focus solely on himself.
Psychological Power and Consistency in Efficiency
The expectations for Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez for the upcoming season, nonetheless, are very completely different. Whereas the Spaniard can legitimately purpose to race for the world championship with the Ducati GP25 with nice possibilities, this gained’t essentially be the case for the British driver, though all of us hope so, provided that Ferrari is ranging from second place within the 2024 Method 1 standings and can enter the combat with McLaren and others from a place objectively higher than 12 months in the past. Successful the F1 driver or constructor title is not going to be simple, and to take action would require distinctive consistency, given the shut gaps already proven this season by all of the groups. Lewis Hamilton’s consistency was objectively missing within the 2024 championship, not at all times resulting from Mercedes’ faults, as proven by George Russell’s performances. It’s onerous to say if it was resulting from lack of motivation, lack of pace, or as a result of Mercedes understandably excluded him from sure developments or just from the extra delicate technical briefings. Lewis Hamilton nonetheless alternated extraordinarily excessive peaks, just like the victory at Silverstone and the performances at Spa, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi, with moments of deep disaster when the crew struggled to persuade him to remain on observe and combat. In qualifying, the Brit usually struggled with George Russell’s pace, and a driver like Charles Leclerc, who has qualifying tempo as one in every of his sharpest instruments, dangers being a really anxious place to begin for the most recent Lewis Hamilton, who will want an injection of “character and consistency” to resist all of the stress that may fall on him as quickly as he steps into the Ferrari cockpit.
Very completely different is the character scenario for Marc Marquez, who has usually gained the confrontation with all his potential rivals, each on observe, contemplating what his GP23 allowed, and off-track, recalling his rise to the official Ducati crew in 2025. The Spanish rider confirmed this season that the darkish years at Honda and the bodily issues after the Jerez crash haven’t affected his pace or willpower within the slightest. Deep down, he is aware of he can win the 2025 world title, however he’ll have to be cautious to not fall into these crashes he justified this yr with the “I had nothing to lose” method. Marc Marquez’s worst enemy could be his thoughts, within the burning obsession to win at all times, even when he ought to permit some “strategic considering” to keep away from heavy zero factors within the standings. The MotoGP title can even be gained with consistency. Simply ask Pecco Bagnaia for latest expertise.
Completely different Expertise with the Group and Gear
From the viewpoint of getting conversant in the crew and the machine, Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez are ranging from very completely different positions. The Spaniard has already examined the GP25 on the end-of-season assessments, and though he raced for a “buyer crew,” he has nonetheless gotten used to Ducati as a company in addition to a motorcycle. Due to this fact, he’s undoubtedly higher acclimatized than Lewis Hamilton, who was unable to drive the Ferrari within the post-Abu Dhabi assessments resulting from contractual causes with Mercedes. Aside from a number of laps he’ll doubtless do in February with the previous F1-75, he’ll solely have a day and a half of pre-season testing to get conversant in the brand new automotive and his new crew. In fact, we’re speaking a couple of seven-time Method 1 world champion with huge expertise in crucial motorsport collection, the place simulator work is actually very helpful for accumulating expertise and data. However Method 1 has lately proven that with simulators and CFD, you possibly can by no means totally perceive the whole lot, and to shave off that tenth in qualifying, a complete symbiosis with the automotive is required, which solely comes from the miles pushed on observe.
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