Mansell predicts Hamilton will "get the job done" in 8th championship fight

Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell has thrown his support behind Lewis Hamilton as the seven-time champion joins Ferrari for the 2025 season with the hopes of achieving an eighth world champion.

Hamilton, who turned 40 years old this year, has started a new chapter in his career after his 12-year partnership with Mercedes came to an end at the end of 2024. Joining Charles Leclerc and Fred Vassuer at the Scuderia, the driver qualified eighth for the Australian Grand Prix. But despite this, Mansell believes this move will ultimately prove to be successful for the Briton.

After securing six world championships with Mercedes and one with McLaren, Hamilton shocked the industry when he confirmed his move to Ferrari at the beginning of 2024. This change has been regarded as one of the most high-profile moves in Formula 1 history, with Hamilton describing the experience as "magical."

The former Mercedes driver's time with Ferrari began in early 2025 with an emotional visit to the Maranello headquarters of the team. Following this, he took to the test track in the SF-25 in Bahrain for pre-season testing. This weekend, he starts the Australian Grand Prix in P8, 0.877 seconds behind pole-sitter Lando Norris and just 0.218 seconds behind teammate Leclerc.

Despite this modest start, Hamilton is motivated for a championship win in red - a win that would move him ahead of Michael Schumacher in the record books.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Mark Horsburgh / Motorsport Images

Nigel Mansell, who drove with Ferrari between the years of 1989 and 1990 before winning a world championship with Williams in 1992, has recently placed his support behind Hamilton via an interview with The Observer. 

"To finish his career, or have the opportunity to finish his career with an eighth world championship hopefully with Ferrari? He'll have a blast. They'll embrace him like there's no tomorrow," Mansell stated.

"He's super intelligent, super clever. I love the guy. I've been a huge fan of Lewis his whole career," he says. "He's got the motivation and mindset. Lewis's 2025 will rejuvenate him to what he was five, 10 years ago and going to Ferrari is just incredibly inspirational.

"The doors it will unlock and Lewis can ask for pretty much anything, and it'll be accepted. Ferrari will give him everything he requires to get the job done. And until I'm proven wrong, I think he will get the job done."

Many have questioned the performance of Hamilton due to his age, but according to Mansell, he is more than capable. After all, Mansell was 39-year-old when he won his. 

All eyes are on Hamilton this weekend as he races behind the wheel of a Ferrari for the first time.