Lewis Hamilton may face challenges in qualifying but could still excel in grands prix following his move to Ferrari, according to a former Formula 1 driver.
Nicolas Kiesa, who briefly raced for Minardi in 2003 alongside Jos Verstappen, shared this perspective with Danish news agency Ritzau when asked about the 40-year-old Briton's striking transition from Mercedes to Ferrari for 2025.
"It's special going from an English team to an Italian team," said Kiesa. "I've experienced it myself, and you really have to get used to things being done differently.
"First of all, there is a language barrier, which will be a challenge at first. You don't know the right phrases, and your reaction time will be slower as a result."
Reports indicate that Hamilton begins the 2025 season trailing his seasoned teammate Charles Leclerc in pace.
Yet Kiesa, now 46, maintains that the seven-time world champion remains among Formula 1's elite.
"He no longer has the raw speed for qualifying that he had ten years ago, but he is possibly still the best at running a stable and fast pace over a race distance," said the Dane.
"The one who becomes world champion is the one who drives the races on Sundays most efficiently. Hamilton has the routine for that and has one of the best racing brains of anyone on the grid."
Fernando Alonso, another prominent driver who once joined Ferrari, offers a more reserved take on Hamilton's potential influence at Maranello.
"I don't know what Hamilton will bring or add to Ferrari, it will surely be less than what a designer can bring," the Spaniard told AS newspaper.
"Adrian Newey will always have more impact than any driver," Alonso added.
