Former Williams deputy crew principal Claire Williams believes that solely a choose few drivers in Components 1 historical past have the character sort to rework a crew.
Talking on the Excessive Efficiency Racing podcast, Williams mirrored on Lewis Hamilton’s second season at Ferrari. With the seven-time champion not too long ago securing a landmark 106th profession victory, his first for the Maranello outfit, comparisons have naturally been drawn to Michael Schumacher’s legendary time on the Scuderia between 1996 and 2006.
When requested about drivers embedding themselves in groups and being a big a part of a metamorphosis, Williams defined: “I do not know if I might say that any of my drivers essentially did that. And that is not being or attempting to be disparaging to those that we had, however we simply weren’t that form of crew.
“We did not have these sorts of drivers coming in that made such a big effect. However clearly, I witnessed it within the sport. I imply, that is precisely what Michael did at Ferrari, and it is a rare factor. However a crew’s received to be in a specific place, and a driver must be of a specific character for that situation to occur. And we do not see it fairly often.
“You get Max Verstappen at Pink Bull. It is occurred there. We talked about, clearly, Michael at Ferrari, and now in all probability Lewis at Ferrari. However once more, that takes an terrible lot of presence, communication, and energy.
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
“I heard Lewis speaking in Italian and thanking folks. I like his little Italian accent. So cute. Like, actually candy. I do not know if I can name Lewis Hamilton cute, however I’ll. How usually is he there? Is he beginning to spend extra time there? I do not know. As a result of clearly, in the beginning of the ’25 marketing campaign, everybody was like, ‘Oh, is it over for Lewis?’
“However anybody who’s been within the sport for a very long time is aware of how lengthy it takes for a driver, significantly one who’s come from a crew that he is been with for a very long time and has had the success that Lewis had at Mercedes.
“It is not going to be simple going into a brand new crew. It’ll take an terrible lot of time. And that each one takes a very long time to gel. And you’ll’t neglect both in regards to the cultural variations that exist between Mercedes and Ferrari, and just about each different crew on the grid.”
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