- Former world champion Nigel Mansell is the last Brit to win a F1 race with Ferrari
- The 71-year-old believes Ferrari have a good chance to win constructors’ title
- And Mansell also expects Mercedes and McLaren to take the fight to Red Bull
Nigel Mansell insists that the thing he’d love to see the most in the 2025 Formula One season would be Lewis Hamilton winning the F1 World Championship with Ferrari.
And the former world champion stressed that Ferrari are ‘long overdue’ to win both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Their last drivers title came in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen and ‘The Prancing Horse’ last won the constructors’ title in 2008.
Speaking to Mail Sport on the F175 red carpet in London, Mansell, who once drove for Ferrari, said: ‘It would be a dream come true for Lewis to win the first race with Ferrari because that then sets the pattern for the rest of the season.
Mansell remains the last British driver to win a Formula 1 race while driving for Ferrari and he added:
‘Ferrari are so long overdue to win the drivers and constructors’ championship so with Charles Leclerc and Lewis (Hamilton), I really hope that they get it done. It’d be magical for Lewis to win another world championship and I wish him all the best.’
And Mansell, 71, stressed that he can’t wait to see the competitiveness that the new season brings, when it starts in Australia on March 16.
1992 world champion Nigel Mansell is geared up for an exciting 2025 Formula One season
Lewis Hamilton, 40, has joined Ferrari in his quest to win a record eighth world title
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will be the man to beat but Mansell expects a competitive season
’The exciting thing about F1 in 2025 is that Max (Verstappen) won’t lie down with Red Bull,’ said Mansell.
‘I’ve heard Red Bull have done a good job with the car over the winter. McLaren were outstanding last year and if they got their act together a little bit sooner, they could have won the (Drivers’) Championship so both Lando (Norris) and (Oscar) Piastri are going to be challenging.
‘And, of course, you mustn’t forget Mercedes with George Russell. Toto Wolff is not there to make up the numbers. We’ve got four fantastic teams and an incredible 2025 to look forward to.’
