Jock Clear: Hamilton Title Win at Ferrari Would Have Been 'Demeaning' to F1

Former Ferrari performance engineer Jock Clear has defended Lewis Hamilton's challenging first season with the team, arguing that an immediate championship would have been 'demeaning' to Formula 1. Clear, who has worked closely with the seven-time champion at both Ferrari and Mercedes, emphasized that adapting to a new team is a complex process that doesn't happen overnight, setting a realistic tone for the upcoming season.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was one of the most significant driver transfers in F1 history, carrying immense expectations from fans and media alike. Clear's perspective reframes the 2024 struggles not as a sign of the driver's decline, but as a realistic and necessary part of integrating a top driver into a new environment. It highlights the immense difficulty of F1 and tempers expectations for 2025, suggesting that success will be a marathon, not a sprint.

The details:

• 'Demeans the sport': Clear stated that if Hamilton "arrived and just won an eighth championship, it sort of demeans or belittles the sport somewhat," reinforcing the idea that F1's challenges should not be underestimated.
• A tough reality: The 2024 season was the first of Hamilton's illustrious career without a single podium finish, a fact he himself called the most challenging of his career.
• The Sainz parallel: He pointed to Carlos Sainz's initial struggles at Williams as a prime example, noting how it took time for the Spaniard to get up to speed with teammate Alex Albon after five races.
• Internal frustration: Clear believes part of Hamilton's frustration stemmed from his own deep understanding of the sport's difficulty and his high personal standards, knowing what it takes to win.
  • He stressed that gelling with a new team, understanding its processes, and extracting maximum performance is a gradual process that requires patience from both the driver and the team.

What's next:

Despite the tough season, Clear is confident Hamilton will return "stronger and harder" for the 2025 campaign. The seven-time champion is expected to use the winter break to fully recover and immerse himself in the development of Ferrari's new car. His success will heavily depend on whether the Scuderia's challenger, developed under updated regulations, can close the gap to the front-runners and finally provide him with the machinery needed to challenge for a record-breaking eighth world title.