Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine, who won four Grand Prix races with the Scuderia, has expressed strong support for Max Verstappen to join Ferrari in the near future. Irvine believes Verstappen has the potential to bring the same transformative impact to Ferrari that Michael Schumacher once brought. However, he advises that Verstappen should not delay this move for too long, warning against following Lewis Hamilton’s example of joining Ferrari relatively late in his career.
Max Verstappen Leaves Lewis Hamilton Off His List of Top Drivers
Max Verstappen recently highlighted his choices for the most impressive current Formula 1 drivers. In a list that included Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc, Verstappen notably excluded Lewis Hamilton, who is both Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate and one of Verstappen’s former championship rivals. This omission has been seen as a significant snub towards Hamilton amidst ongoing F1 discussions.
Nico Rosberg Reveals Additional Reasons Behind Hamilton’s Move to Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton announced he would end his record-breaking run with Mercedes to join Ferrari starting in 2025, describing the change as a fulfillment of a childhood ambition. Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate and rival, suggested another motive behind the switch: Hamilton’s desire to find a career environment with fewer sponsor obligations, providing him a more relaxed atmosphere away from constant promotional demands.
Monza Victory Highlights Impact of Red Bull’s New Engineering Leadership
The 2025 season has seen McLaren take much of the spotlight, but Max Verstappen’s performance at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza marked a major turning point. Verstappen captured pole position with a new lap record and delivered a commanding race victory. Observers including Rosberg and Sky F1 commentator David Croft credit Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s new boss, for this breakthrough by ensuring Verstappen’s input influenced the RB21 car setup—something they felt former team principal Christian Horner, despite his leadership skills, was not technically focused enough to manage.
Isack Hadjar Gains Recognition as a Promising Red Bull Contender
With Red Bull preparing to select a teammate for Verstappen for the 2026 season, rookie driver Isack Hadjar has emerged as a leading candidate due to his strong performances with junior team Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson, Hadjar’s teammate who was recently reassigned from Red Bull to Racing Bulls after just two races, publicly endorsed Hadjar’s readiness to step up to the main team, underscoring Hadjar’s promising talent and consistency during his debut F1 season.
Looking Ahead: Implications for Hamilton, Verstappen, and Ferrari
Eddie Irvine’s urging for Verstappen to join Ferrari adds fresh intrigue to the ongoing narrative about Lewis Hamilton’s future in Formula 1. Verstappen’s decision to exclude Hamilton from his list of top drivers signals a shifting dynamic within the sport’s elite. Hamilton’s upcoming move to Ferrari carries both emotional and practical significance, potentially altering the competitive landscape, while Red Bull’s evolving leadership under Mekies and rising talents like Hadjar continue to shape F1’s future. The seasons ahead will reveal how these decisions and changes influence the championship battles and team hierarchies.
