Hamilton eighth F1 title quest. Will it happen with Ferrari?

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 13:54

Former Formula 1 driver and German TV pundit Christian Danner cast doubt on Lewis Hamilton’s chances of claiming an eighth world title with Ferrari and suggested Max Verstappen holds all the power in deciding his own future.

In an interview ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Danner assessed the outlook for both Formula 1 world champions as the sport heads into the Miami Grand Prix weekend. Both struggling in their own ways, Hamilton to come to grips with Ferrari and Verstappen toiling with a car way off the pace of the benchmark McLaren team.

While British media seem shy to really examine Hamilton's woes at Ferrari, which surfaced despite that stunning win in the China Sprint Race. But since then, by his admission, the driver is struggling relative to teammate Charles Leclerc to come to terms with not only the SF21 but also the different ways of Ferrari after two decades within the familiarity of Mercedes.

Discussing Hamilton's conundrum at Maranello, Danner said: “Honestly, it’s looking like Lewis Hamilton can forget an eighth title in a Ferrari. Talking about Lewis publicly is tough; he polarises opinion. Half the fans think he’s past it, the other half think he walks on water.

“Lewis knows he’s underperforming. He wasn’t even close to Leclerc last race. Yes, he needs time to adjust to the team and the car; that’s fair. I believe he can still reach his goal, but whether he’s prepared to put in the energy, patience, and political manoeuvring it will take... I don’t know. It's a huge ask at this stage in his career.

“When he joined McLaren and faced Alonso, he was on the pace immediately. That shows what he’s capable of. But whether he’s still willing to grind through that process is the real question," added Danner.

Hamilton has few options, Verstappen has many

Speculating on what the future might hold for the seven-time F1 World Champion, Danner said: “Possibly, Hamilton could look elsewhere. But where would he go? This is the first time in his career he’s with a non-British team. Everything’s different, from communication to problem-solving.

“He might retire, or he might stay if things turn around. If he ends the year like he started it, I think he’ll call it quits. But if he gets on top of things, why not stick it out? He still has the talent, it’s a question of whether he can pull the right strings.

“I couldn’t possibly know. But if he stays in P7 territory, yes. If he finds form, then no. It all depends on whether the car speaks his language, so to speak.”

Turning to Verstappen’s future, Danner was clear: “Max can go anywhere, any time. He’s the best out there. Whether it’s Aston Martin, McLaren, Ferrari, he has options. It depends on how he judges the situation later this year.

“He has no pressure, no deadlines. He can evaluate the Red Bull 2026 project, talk to Adrian Newey, visit the Honda factory, and he can gather all the information he needs. If Red Bull continue in the wrong direction, there’s a higher chance he leaves. But we’re only a few races in, it’s too early to say," ventured Danner.

Odds on Hamilton winning F1 title this year have dropped dramatically

hamilton verstappen 2025 f1 salries earners

At the start of the 2025 season, bookmakers were optimistic about Hamilton's prospects with Ferrari. Following impressive testing performances, his odds to win the Drivers' Championship shortened to 5/1 (approximately 16.7% implied probability).

However, after five races, his performance has not met expectations. Currently, he sits seventh in the Drivers' Championship standings, with a best finish of fifth place in Bahrain. Consequently, his odds have lengthened significantly:

During pre-season testing, Verstappen was among the top favorites for the 2025 title. As the season progressed, Red Bull's performance appeared to wane. This led to a reassessment of Verstappen's championship odds. According to SportsBettingDime, after five rounds, the latest odds for the 2025 F1 Drivers' Championship are:

Oscar Piastri: -120 (approximately 54.5% implied probability)
Lando Norris: +200 (approximately 33.3% implied probability)
Max Verstappen: +400 (approximately 20% implied probability)
Lewis Hamilton: +1200 (approximately 7.7% implied probability)

These numbers above reflect decreased confidence in both Hamilton and Verstappen's 2025 F1 championship prospects, with the McLaren drivers increasingly favourites.

(Source: Casino Games)