Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports/Getty
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Formula 1
Marcus Chan
Former The Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson has made a bold prediction ahead of Lewis Hamilton's much-anticipated first season with Ferrari.
In February of last year, Hamilton shocked the Formula 1 world to its core after announcing his decision to leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season.
The Brit then quickly confirmed that he would be racing for Ferrari from the 2025 campaign onwards, partnering Charles Leclerc.
This week, the 40-year-old officially began life as a Ferrari driver as he was spotted arriving at the team's base in Maranello.
On Wednesday, Hamilton got behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car for the first time as he completed a test session in his new colours.
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Although many are expecting Hamilton to challenge right at the top in a Ferrari, former Top Gear host and F1 fan Clarkson has some doubts.
After last season's Brazilian Grand Prix, the 64-year-old raised a concern about Hamilton's age.
He wrote in his column for The Sun, via On Si: "We learned two important things during last weekend’s grand prix in Brazil. Well, three, if you count Lance Stroll, who crashed his freshly repaired car on the formation lap, and then drove it into a gravel trap.
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"First of all, Max Verstappen is one of the all-time greats, he may even be the greatest driver we’ve ever seen, and second, Lewis Hamilton is past his prime."
Clarkson added: "He blamed his car for his tail-end qualifying session but his team-mate, George Russell was on the front row.
"Of course, it’s possible that because Lewis is moving to Ferrari next year, the team are filling his fuel tank with lemon barley water instead of petrol. But that seems unlikely, it is far more probable that he’s now too old."
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Reflecting on his first test session for Ferrari, Hamilton said: "Driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time this morning, was one of the best feelings of my life.
"When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face. It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car."
The 2025 F1 season will begin in March with the Australian Grand Prix, which will be held around Albert Park in Melbourne on March 16.