Bernie Collins has sent a ‘massive’ warning to Lewis Hamilton as he prepares to join Ferrari next year.
The Scuderia confirmed in February that seven-time world champion Hamilton would race in their colours in 2025.
But speaking on the The Fast and the Curious Podcast, Sky Sports F1 pundit Collins told him that it wasn’t going to be an easy ride.
The former McLaren driver is due to replace Carlos Sainz at the Prancing Horse and race alongside Charles Leclerc.
But while Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix last time out, Hamilton has failed to finish any of the opening three races in the top six for the first time in his F1 career.
Last time out in Melbourne, he suffered his first mechanical retirement since the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix when his engine failed.
That leaves 10th in the championship heading to Japan with just eight points on the board.
To make matters worse, teammate George Russell has out-qualified him at every round so far.
Mercedes as a whole have disappointed in the opening part of the campaign, with the Silver Arrows already 67 points behind top two teams Red Bull and Ferrari.
Bernie Collins says ‘distant’ Hamilton faces a challenge at Ferrari
Collins feels that Hamilton has looked ‘distant’ from his Mercedes team, who are no longer ‘jumping through hoops’ to give him what he wants.
However, it may not be plain sailing when he joins Ferrari either as the 39-year-old will have to adapt to a new power unit and a new environment.
The former Aston Martin strategist said: “I think he’s disappointed that the car’s still not where it needs to be even though they have made big changes.
“Because he’d pushed quite hard for changes in previous years and they were slow to come, he feels a bit distant from the team.
“Mercedes have always supported him entirely, jumped through the hoops to make what Lewis wanted happen.
“And now that’s going to change.
“I think the Ferrari step for him is going to be a massive challenge. He’s never driven a Ferrari-powered car.
“All the engine modes are different, the team ethos is different. Yes, Fred’s there, but it’s going to be such a different environment.”
When did Lewis Hamilton last win a race?
Hamilton is statistically the most successful driver in F1 history, with 103 wins and 104 pole positions in addition to his seven titles.
But it’s feasible, given Mercedes’ struggles, that he could join Ferrari having failed to win a Grand Prix for three straight seasons.
Hamilton won at least one race for 15 straight years at the beginning of his F1 career, but he hasn’t tasted victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Mercedes have only taken the chequered flag once since, but it was Russell who led home Hamilton at the 2022 Brazilian GP.
Hamilton has stood on the podium 16 times since he last graced the top step, finishing runner-up eight times.
Former Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has already told the Briton, who has been with Mercedes since 2014, that it will be ‘difficult’ to acclimatise next year.
Hamilton will go up against Leclerc, who has won five Grands Prix but is yet to truly contend for a world title.
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon thinks that the Monegasque is the most naturally-talented driver on the grid alongside Max Verstappen.
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