Lewis Hamilton hit with George Russell warning amid concern after Ferrari move
Lewis Hamilton has seen a decline in recent years, with Max Verstappen now the dominant force after winning the last four drivers' championships - while he also struggled to outshine team-mate George Russell
Lewis Hamilton has seen a decline in recent years, with Max Verstappen now the dominant force after winning the last four drivers' championships - while he also struggled to outshine team-mate George RussellLewis Hamilton has been warned his new Ferrari team-mate Charles LeClerc is on a "similar level" to old Mercedes partner George Russell
Lewis Hamilton's former F1 rival Nico Rosberg has warned him his new Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc is on "a similar level" to his Mercedes partner George Russell.
Hamilton is set to drive in red of Ferrari for the first time when the new F1 season begins in March after 11 years with Mercedes, where became a seven-time world champion and one of the greatest in the history of the sport.
But the British star has seen a decline in recent years, with Max Verstappen now the dominant force after winning the last four drivers' championships.
Hamilton was outshone by his Mercedes team-mate Russell last season, with his fellow Brit taking 22 more points than him - though the pair both won two races each overall.
And as Hamilton prepares to now team up with LeClerc, former Ferrari racer Rosberg feels the Brit will struggle to compete with the Monegasque. He believed Hamilton will be outpaced by him - just as he was by Russell - and predicted Leclerc will edge him in the first part of the season.
When asked who would come out on top between the two, he told PlanetF1: "If you take [Abu Dhabi], then definitely Charles,â âBecause Charles will be on a similar level to George Russell, which is kind of the best of the next generation level, except for Verstappen, [who] was a little higher again, and Lewis is just struggling at the moment, and we donât really know why.
âSo if itâs as of today, then Charles will beat him in the same way as George Russell is beating him â but Lewis is the greatest of all time.
Hamilton is hoping for a fresh chapter with Ferrari after bidding an emotional farewell to Mercedes following 11 years
"We still give him the benefit of the doubt that he can be back to his usual best, and then he should be slightly ahead of Charles at the end of the year."
Hamilton is set to arrive at Ferrari F1 base in Maranello next week, with CEO Benedetto Vigna saying there was "excitement" over the new chapter.
"There is a lot of excitement, a great desire to begin," he said. "Lewis will be with us at Ferrari next week. We are preparing the last things.
"There is a lot of expectation, we are ready for almost everything. Weâll make sure everything is in place. Changes are always beautiful."