The world of motor sport will line up for a 2025 season which is marked by two resounding new developments; that of Lewis Hamilton, who early last year, after a long and glorious run in Mercedes, joined Ferrari, and that of Marc Marquez, undisputed champion of MotoGP, who on the other hand, after an excellent 2024 season with Ducati's satellite team Gresini, will wear the official colors of the Lenovo Ducati team.
Two moves that redraw the balance of the respective categories and pose a series of fascinating questions.
A new chapter in history
Both champions represent icons in their sport. Hamilton, with his seven world titles, has written indelible pages in Formula 1 history, while Marquez, eight world titles to his name, dominated MotoGP with a unique ferocity and technique until 2019, only to run into a serious incident in 2020 at Jerez that threatened to end his career.
After three years of purgatory Marc left Honda for the most important challenge of his career: to prove he is still a winner.
But moving now to such a high-profile team is a calculated gamble, a challenge that promises to deliver strong emotions.
Ferrari and Ducati: two different challenges
While united by the desire to bring success back to Italy, Hamilton and Marquez will face different challenges. Ferrari, after years of ups and downs, is looking for a driver capable of bringing it back to the glories of the past, after relying mainly on Charles Leclerc, perhaps too quickly referred to as 'the destined one'.
Hamilton, with his experience and charisma, seems to be the right man for the job. Ducati, on the other hand, is already a winning reality, but Marquez, as Luigi Dall'Igna himself has declared, will be able to give the project a further boost, bringing his innate ability to push the bike to the limit.
At the same time, however, he will find himself alongside three-time world champion Pecco Bagnaia. An uncomfortable and certainly competitive neighbor.
Expectations
Expectations on both men are very high. Hamilton will have to prove that he can adapt to a different car and compete with Ferrari's younger talent.
Marquez, on the other hand, will have to confirm his dominance and help further develop the Ducati, trying to win a title in the top category with a different bike.
A feat that his great rival, Valentino Rossi, succeeded in doing in 2004.
An uncertain future
The future of Hamilton and Marquez in their respective new teams is yet to be written. Both manufacturers have invested heavily in these champions, but success is never guaranteed.
Team dynamics, single-seater and motorcycle development, and competition will be determining factors in their futures.
A dream come true
For Ferrari and Ducati fans, the arrival of Hamilton and Marquez represents a dream come true.
Having two champions of their caliber behind the wheel or on the bike is a source of pride, even though some fringes of the fans may initially turn their noses up at it or not understand why they were chosen.
Now all we have to do is wait for the start of the new seasons to find out if these two champions will be able to write new unforgettable pages in motorsport history.
And what do you think?
