Lewis Hamilton to be 'challenged' at Ferrari as Mercedes exit will 'do him world of good'

Lewis Hamilton's blockbuster move to will "do him the world of good".

That is the view of British former F1 racer who thinks the seven-time champion needs to be "challenged" again. won six of his seven titles with the team he is leaving after a move from that was, at the time, seen as a huge risk.

And, with Ferrari in title contention after a one-two finish in Austin last weekend, ex-McLaren driver Blundell thinks his fellow Brit might have played another blinder. He said: "If you look back when he did it and made his decision, you would have questioned it to a degree.

"And, as of the weekend just gone, then you would be going, 'Whoa, what a smart move', because it looks like it was a play above everybody else. From where he is at the moment, I think it will do him the of good to be reinvigorated and challenged again.

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"I think it will be doing the world of good to be in a different environment. I think it will also do the team good to actually have a multi-world champion come in and give them motivation and understanding as well as levels that they need to push them."

Hamilton will be 40 by the time he gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car for the first time. He has gambled his dream of moving past and winning an eighth drivers' title on this move.

The Brit has signed a two-year deal with the option for a third, but Ferrari look to be in a strong position to give him a title-challenging car from the get-go. 's Austin victory was his third of the season and a fourth for the Scuderia overall.

They are now 48 points off the top of the constructors' standings and are eyeing a late charge in the final weeks of the current season. Plus, teams will make few changes to their 2025 cars with a huge regulation change coming the following year, so the current balance of power seems likely to remain.

McLaren and will no doubt be strong while Mercedes have proven they can challenge when the stars align for them. And Blundell backs Ferrari to be in the title conversation this time next year.

He said: "There are a lot of pluses. In terms of whether it is the smartest move, I think 2025 will play that one out for all of us. But if Ferrari keep going in the way they are, then there is some possibility that he could get what he wants and pull off another championship."

Former Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell spoke to Mirror Sport via .